New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney is reportedly mad as can be after reviewing Republican
Gov. Chris Christie’s line-item veto of the controversial state budget.

Sweeney and other Democratic legislative leaders had recently reached a compromise on a pension and health reform bill with Christie. After going out on a limb, Sweeny sees the governor’s budget as a summary rejection of every Democratic move, according to a
Politico.com report.
“This is all about him being a bully and a punk,” Sweeny blasted. “I wanted to punch him in his head.” “You know who he reminds me of?” Sweeney asked rhetorically. “Mr. Potter from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ the mean old bastard who screws everybody.”
A Christie aide opined that such comments were unearned and that there had been plenty of give-and-take along the way. "The Governor met with Steve Sweeney and Speaker Oliver for 1 1/4 hours privately on Monday afternoon, June 27th, met with Sweeney on Tuesday before the bill signing…”
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