Working on a cap deal

by: Jason Springer

Sat Jul 03, 2010 at 12:23:20 PM EDT

Updated: State House Steps just tweeted that a press conference on a property tax cap deal is expected by 2pm. - updated by Rosi

Updated: So now we hear from Speaker Oliver that there is no agreement and no conversations according to the Assembly Democratic Spokesman Tom Hester Jr.:

"There is no agreement. The Speaker has had no conversations with the governor on this subject."

Jason Method reports at Capitol Quickies that there may be a deal in the works on the improved and updated cap deal:

Senior statehouse sources confirm that the framework of a deal between Gov. Chris Christie and Democrats over the property cap proposal is now in place and an announcement is expected today.

One source said the deal involves a property tax cap of 2 percent, but will include additional exemptions beyond what Christie had initially proposed. The announcement is expected by early this afternoon, the source said.

But I think it's important Democrats push back on the whole "new cap from Christie concept" once a deal is done, because there is a statutory cap in place already. The Governor and Republicans will try to take credit and the media will probably go along that there wouldn't have been this cap had it not been for the Governor driving. Christie abandoned his crusade to change the constitution the other day. If Democrats have made the decision that the right thing for them to do in this process is improve the cap they put in place, they should push back hard that this is just some idea the Governor and GOP leaders cooked up.