TRENTON - Following a meeting of the Senate Democratic caucus, Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) announced that the Senate Budget Committee would convene tomorrow, Friday, to consdier Gov. Chris Christie's compromise proposal of a 2.5% statutory cap with exemptions only for debt service.

Sweeney said if he could certain exemptions, such as pension and healthcare costs, he would be willing to consider a cap lower than 2.5%, suggesting 2.0% as a possibility.

"We're willing to go through the exemptions with the governor,"  the senate president told reporters at a press conference he called after he relieved his caucus. "We already reduced the number on the cap. That's where the negotiation is. Why not two percent?"

Sweeney initially planned to convene a senate session while Christie addressed the Assembly. But he says he changed his plan after the governor backed down from his proposal of a constitutional hard cap.

"We were going to let the public know about Massachussetts," said Sweeney, referring to a state with the constitutional cap Christie favored. "What the public didn't know about that cap, they wouldn't like.

"I decided to bring in my caucus (to a joint session) when the governor said there would be a compromise," he added. "I was happy he compromised."

Sweeney did not accept the argument that Christie is forcing the Democrats to adopt a working schedule to accomplish property tax reform. 

"I'll come in Saturday if he wants," Sweeney said. "I have no life. But he took July 7th (the dealine to get a referendum on the ballot) off the table, and we already announced we would meet throughout the summer."

"We already announced we would meet through the summer