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New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney discusses his comments made about N.J. Gov. Chris Christie and his deficit reduction plans.
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Toward new Jersey state senator Steve Sweeney is via rights we've introduced you before you of -- would -- of the metal workers union chief fire workers.
Iowa press McCain -- difference to global -- -- buildings yes you differently and view on the president of the steady state sense yes leader of the Democrats and the New Jersey State Senate yes.
Am I right in saying that there is a wave of layoffs of state -- Coming this summer in America.
Well I think side you know again we're struggling with budgets and we're struggles but there's structural deficits are and until we until we've.
You know get our houses in order.
There's not enough money to go around so that's -- cutting personnel so.
Unions refuse.
Mistake looking unions not you're you're going on -- -- -- -- state workers union.
Now they refused to give backs that's why we've gone to these layoffs and because I think there could be a couple of 100000 layoffs in the next three months.
Well you know in New Jersey you know you know the battle we had on pension and Health Care Reform -- and we had the legislated because that was in knew it was gonna get fixed you know in and we actually tried to compromise -- wasn't any people being reasonable to compromise.
Even the governor the governor myself and others actually came to an agreement that we thought was reasonable with them.
At the end of the day -- sit.
Yeah with this looks good but not forget it they -- to have layoffs they've rather fight that any kind of give backs they actually -- to fight rather than compromise and I was very frustrating for us.
Because there was real compromise and look.
The governor is a very conservative person now.
I'm on the fiscally conservative person but -- -- labor person.
We actually came to a real compromise for real reform that was gonna protect the pensions of 800000 people.
And fix the problem with -- health care property in our health care benefits which -- 191000 -- on average now.
We came up with a plan we worked with them we ask them what they want it we got close we've both got closest what I do for a living we negotiate.
They -- what.
It was very frustrating so you know.
They would rather protest and tolerant and fix the problems and for me when I started this fight in 2006.
And this is what's happened we we just looked the other way to only 2006.
The promise tactic.
Did announce that -- do you think they're looking to President Obama for some kind of bailout because the president has said he wants to invest quote in education and invest in infrastructure.
That would preserve state -- jobs are they looking for that you think.
I don't think there's money be done to -- -- that's the problem you're looking for something not picking up and are they hoping for it.
They're hoping for something but I don't see coming.
I was sick of -- Will we were in the Green room senator you said we were talking about New Jersey vs California you said.
Is that this states have a New Jersey is a structural problem that's what is that structural problem you wanna fix what the structural problem in New Jersey and we just did fix it was the pensions and how was pension and health care they were the main problems I mean education funding is another problem.
For New Jersey -- we spent so much per pupil and you know sometimes money doesn't match.
The -- com.
You know we spend and some cities up between six point 7000 dollars a child who and you don't and we're not graduating kids and -- not succeeding so.
Throwing money at an issue isn't always the answer you -- dig -- find out what's wrong.
And fix it and we haven't done that yet but that we fix the pension and welfare.
OK now want to get to you'll use of strong language governor Crist a Republican governor -- -- just he used a line item veto.
To cut 900 million dollars from new Jersey's state budgets he just did it just like that he did not negotiate with you.
Even though you could help come to that agreement.
-- turned around and you said and I'm quoting now without a language he's a rotten expletive.
You know who we're reminds me off.
Messed up part of from it's a wonderful life the mean -- so and so who screws everybody this is all about him being a bully out up talk.
I want -- punch him in the head.
Politics gets a little -- in -- What do you regret -- My line which was over the top and I'm disappointed myself but I'm not apologizing for my anchor.
What he did was mean spirited -- in remind me mister potter he sat down at a desk.
With a piece of paper said the when Arnold Whitman senator for abuse children.
That woman spoke out against me line -- money out and not to balance a budget.
His surplus on -- -- he did that yesterday that about particular doesn't have opposed them you know that for a fact.
While the person spoke out why would you in any good conscience cut money away from sexually abuse children.
-- -- If we had a problem where you had to build the surplus we didn't have a surplus.
I could understand it.
But he added to the surplus.
His budget had 303 million dollars in.
He cut -- his budget.
Not our budget his budget legal services which is certain legal services for poor people's civil case right now.
We put five million in he's zero data out and then went five million below his own budget.
So what I'm saying is here -- a budget in February assist 303 million is significant surplus.
Now the surplus is 640.
Million dollars at the cost of -- patients show sexually -- -- so that's where my issue I was.
And I got about fiscally conserve -- U law and you're welcome guest on this program I got to tell you.
Times are so bad in settlement -- states may be we need the gloves to come off.
And some even mean spirited -- politics will be required.
You think.
Well you know I'm willing to work into anything it's necessary but when the money's there Stewart the government has -- you safety net for some facts that we can't be everything to everyone.
Because that's what got us in all this trouble you know you want something we give your money.
But there's some programs that have to be funded and when he funded them in his budget.
And then took the money out.
You know it's not fair Steve Sweeney the president of the -- workers union that's present to the state senate to New Jersey Democrat.
Welcome guest on this program is to -- is supposed to have you with us thank you sir thank you on the up across you can -- -- --
