LATEST UPDATE: Gov. Chris Christie, N.J. legislature reach deal on 2 percent property tax cap TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie and lawmakers arrived this morning at the Statehouse for the third day of a special joint legislative session the governor called to force a showdown over property tax reform. Republican senators huddled in caucus while Senate President Stephen Sweeney...
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie and lawmakers arrived this morning at the Statehouse for the third day of a special joint legislative session the governor called to force a showdown over property tax reform.
Republican senators huddled in caucus while Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) met with Christie. After he left, Republican minority leaders from both houses entered the governor's office.
Democrats and Republicans are at odds over the structure of property tax limits. After Christie on Thursday said he would accept a statutory limit on local property tax increases - by law rather than by constitutional amendment — the sticking points remain the exemptions to the cap.
Sweeney said it does not make sense to include costs beyond a town's control — such as energy costs and health care — while Christie described those type of exceptions as the holes in a "swiss cheese" policy. Sweeney has also questioned why the percent increase is not lower than 2.5.
Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Union) said the Republicans were ready to work.
"I'm optimistic," Kean said. "I think we need to move quickly before one more family loses their house, before one more business closes, to provide a solution that will give hope to the state of New Jersey."
Sweeney showed up around 8 a.m., Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver arrived at 10:45 a.m., while the only other Democratic lawmaker seen in the building was Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May). Sweeney said the two had a scheduled meeting.
Van Drew joked with Republican senators outside the Senate chamber about wearing bathing suits underneath their business clothes while they worked over the July 4th weekend.
"If I have to, I'll be here everyday," he said.
By Lisa Fleisher and Chris Megerian/Statehouse Bureau