By Michael Aron
Chief Political Correspondent
Gov. Chris Christie brokered an agreement between the Democratic leaders and the three appeared together mid-afternoon to make it official.
“I want to say to everybody that this involved a great deal of compromise on the parts of all parties. Nobody here is getting exactly what they wanted or exactly the outline of what they asked for, but the most important thing in my view was to bring resolution to this issue and to give voters their opportunity this November when there will presumably be a large turnout in New Jersey, as there will be across the country, for the presidential election for the largest number of our citizens to be able to make a determination on whether they choose to amend the constitution to expand gaming possibilities to the northern part of our state outside of Atlantic City,” Christie said.
It means a new constitutional amendment will get introduced most likely tomorrow when a new two-year legislative session begins.
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and his allies were worried about the provision in Senate President Steve Sweeney’s bill that requires that the two new North Jersey casinos be majority-owned by existing Atlantic City casino companies.
They thought the existing companies might build cheap slot parlors up north and might drag their feet in creating the new competition for Atlantic City.
So the deal they agreed on is to go with the Senate version of the bill, but with two changes. Each new casino must entail at least a $1 billion investment and there must be tight timelines in getting the new casinos up and running.
Sweeney agreed to those provisions in what remains essentially his bill.
“We want real investment in the state of New Jersey. We don’t want slots in a box and Sen. Sarlo and myself, Sen. Sarlo being the prime sponsor, have agreed to enissue that the speaker has let everyone know what his concerns were,” he said.
Prieto seemed satisfied with the compromise.
“We didn’t want anyone sitting on their hands and operator from Atlantic City basically dictating how long or what amount of investments. So, that’s going to be spelled out and I think it’s a great day, not for the people you see here. We’re facilitating this to the voters for them to be able to decide if they want casinos,” he said.
A source in the governor’s office says the battle between Sweeney and Prieto had become almost venomous and that the governor had to step in to resolve it.
“We were working well into the late hours of last night together. Both of them continue to maintain good will, good humor,” Christie said.
It will require a three-fifths majority in each house to get the constitutional amendment expanding gaming onto the 2016 ballot, but that shouldn’t be too difficult.
Earlier the Senate passed the Sweeney bill 33 to 6, amid much discussion of how new gaming could benefit the state.
“I proudly support this bill with my fellow Democrats and Republicans. If we want to be political, we would assail it and kill it. It’s not about politics, it’s about what’s right for the direction of New Jersey. This is right for the direction of New Jersey,” said Sen. Kevin O’Toole.
South Jersey Sens. Jim Whelan and Jeff Van Drew opposed the entire project, but majorities on both sides of the aisle voted yes.
Three other constitutional amendments were in the mix today. One that would bolster the pension system passed the Senate along party lines. One that dedicates gas tax money to the Transportation Trust Fund is in line for approval. And a controversial one that would change the legislative redistricting process is being held.