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♪ >>> WELCOME TO "CHAT BOX," I'M DAVID CRUZ.

HAPPY YOU COULD JOIN US AFTER A HISTORIC WEEK IN TRENTON.

THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH PRERECORDED IN FRONT OF AN EMPTY THEATER FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDING WITH A LOT OF WORK STILL UNDONE AND NOW NEW FACES IN LEADERSHIP OF BOTH PARTIES.

BUT NONE BIGGER THAN THE ONE IN THE SENATE WHERE AFTER A DOZEN YEARS AS SENATE PRESIDENT, STEVE SWEENEY IS OUT AS PRESIDENT AND AS SENATOR, WHICH MADE HIM AVAILABLE TO JOIN US TODAY.

SENATOR, THANKS FOR TAKING A FEW MINUTES WITH US.

I KNOW YOU'RE A GUY WHO NEVER LIKES TO LOOK BACK.

YOU'RE ALWAYS FORWARD FACING, BUT CAN YOU JUST SHARE YOUR REACTION, EITHER ON ELECTION NIGHT OR IN THE DAYS THEREAFTER WHEN YOU REALIZED YOU HAD LOST THIS ELECTION?

WHAT EXPLETIVE DID YOU USE?

>> HOLY [ BLEEP ].

YOU KNOW?

DAVID, IT WAS -- IT JUST -- IT'S NO WAY TO EXPLAIN IT.

YOU KNOW?

IT WAS A RED WAVE.

THERE WAS -- WE ACTUALLY HAD 12,000 MORE VOTERS VOTED THIS ELECTION CYCLE THAN THE LAST ONE.

AND THEY ALL VOTED REPUBLICAN.

PHIL MURPHY LOST MY DISTRICT BY 15 POINTS.

I LOST IT BY THREE.

I ACTUALLY HIT MY NUMBER IN 2017 WHEN WE HAD THE MOST EXPENSIVE LEGISLATIVE RACE IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY, AND I WON BY ALMOST 19 POINTS.

THIS YEAR, AND THAT'S WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AGAINST ME, DAVID.

THIS YEAR, NO MONEY.

THERE WAS NO MONEY AGAINST ME.

NO REAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST ME.

AND AGAIN, I HIT MY NUMBERS BY A COUPLE HUNDRED VOTES OF HITTING WHAT I HAD IN '17, AND MY OPPONENTS OVER THE YEARS WOULD GET ANYWHERE FROM 20,000 TO 24,000.

THEY GOT 34,000 VOTES, 12,000 MORE PEOPLE VOTED IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE, AND DAVID, THEY VOTED AGAINST US.

>> WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT THAT HAPPENED?

OR DID YOU SEE IT COMING SOMEWHERE IN THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY?

>> WELL, I HAD TWO SEPARATE POLLSTERS.

ONE HAD ME UP 15 POINTS, THE OTHER HAD ME UP 19 POINTS.

I CAN TELL YOU, I SAID, YOU KNOW, I'LL NEVER HIRE A POLLSTER AGAIN.

WE'LL DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY.

BUT THEY WERE SO OFF, DAVID.

AND WE RAN A CAMPAIGN BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY ASSEMBLY COLLEAGUES WERE RUNNING AS HIGH AS I WAS.

AND LIKE I SAID, EVERYTHING THAT PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT, DAVID, NOT EVERYTHING, BUT A LOT OF THINGS THEY SAY THEY WANT, WE DID.

WE ELIMINATED THE INCOME TAX FOR RETIREES UP TO $100,000.

THAT'S 90-SOME THOUSAND RETIREES.

WE ELIMINATED THE ESTATE TAX.

PEOPLE SAY THEY CARE ABOUT JOBS AND THE ECONOMY.

WELL, WE BUILT -- WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING THE THIRD NEW PORT IN THE DELAWARE RIVER, AND WE WERE THE FIRST ONES IN 50 YEARS.

>> THAT'S SPECIFIC TO THE DISTRICT STUFF IS THE POINT OF THAT AS WELL, RIGHT?

>> DAVID, WE SAVED THE NUCLEAR PLANTS FROM CLOSING, THOUSANDS OF JOBS.

WE CAPTURED THE WIND INDUSTRY.

THERE'S MANUFACTURING.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE 3 OR 4,000 MANUFACTURING JOBS IN MY DISTRICT, MY FORMER DISTRICT, SO WE JUST SAVED THE HOSPITAL FROM CLOSING.

THE HOSPITAL WAS GOING TO CLOSE I SALEM, SO WE -- YOU GET SURPRISED WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENS, AND LISTEN, OUR OPPONENTS, AGAIN, THEY DIDN'T SPEND ANY MONEY.

THEY DIDN'T RAISE ANY MONEY BECAUSE NO ONE THOUGHT THEY COULD WIN, AND YOU KNOW, THEY WON, BUT THEY DIDN'T BEAT US.

I THINK I OUTVOTED THE GOVERNOR BY PROBABLY 10,000 VOTES IN THE DISTRICT.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL.

BUT IT JUST WASN'T ENOUGH, WHEN THE TOP OF THE TICKET LOSES BY 15 POINTS AND, LOOK, I LOST THE RACE, I'M NOT BLAMING PHIL MURPHY, I'M NOT BLAMING ANYBODY.

IT WAS MY RACE TO WIN OR LOSE, AND WE LOST.

>> RIGHT.

I'M NOT GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT'S NEXT JUST YET.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR DECADE IN THE BIG CHAIR.

I MEAN, THAT'S A REALLY POWERFUL POSITION UNTIL YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOUR CAUCUS, RIGHT?

>> WELL, THERE'S, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S CAUCUS POLITICS, BUT LOOK, MY CAUCUS HAS BEEN -- I HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED, DAVID, TO HAVE A GROUP OF MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN SO LOYAL.

LOOK, I SPENT 12 YEARS IN THAT SEAT, RIGHT?

AND NO ONE'S EVER COME CLOSE TO THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT MY MEMBERS.

SO, I'M -- I'M VERY BLESSED THAT I HAD MEMBERS THAT ENTRUSTED ME AND OH, BY THE WAY, THEY HAD ALREADY VOTED FOR ME TO BE THE SENATE PRESIDENT AFTER THE ELECTION, SO MAYBE I SHOULD NOT HAVE ANNOUNCED IT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION.

>> BUT THERE IS A DIVIDE, I MEAN, EVEN IN THE SELECTION OF YOUR SUCCESSOR LAST WEEK.

HE DIDN'T RISE UNOPPOSED, AND THERE'S ALWAYS THIS TALK OF HOW THE PARTY ITSELF -- AND YOU EVEN SUGGESTED IT, THAT IT IS A MODERATE PARTY, BUT THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME VERY LIBERAL PARTS OF THAT PARTY.

IS THERE A LEFT VS.

RIGHT TENSION OR A NORTH VS. SOUTH TENSION OR A TENSION BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES ON THE LEGISLATURE WHO ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR VS.

THE OLD WHITE GUYS?

I MEAN, THERE HAVE TO BE SOME OF THOSE TENSIONS THERE, NO?

>> WELL, DAVID, NOT REALLY.

LISTEN, SENATOR GILL, YOU KNOW, RAN AGAINST SENATOR SCUTARI AND GOT HER VOTE AND ONE OTHER.

EVERYONE ELSE VOTED.

SO THAT'S OVERWHELMINGLY -- NICK HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE CAUCUS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT HE'S PUT TOGETHER, IT'S THE MOST DIVERSE LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT THE SENATE HAS EVER SEEN.

FROM TERESA RUIZ AS THE MAJORITY LEADER, SANDY CUNNINGHAM, THE SE SENATOR PRO TEMPORE.

TROY IS THE WHIP.

HE'S GOT A VERY DIVERSE LEADERSHIP TEAM.

>> YEAH, BUT ULTIMATELY, IN THE END, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SPEAKER, IT'S THE SENATE PRESIDENT, AND IT'S THE GOVERNOR WHO END UP MAKING THE FINAL DEALS, THE SO-CALLED THREE WHITE GUYS IN A ROOM.

THAT'S THE THING THAT'S HARD TO AVOID WHEN YOU SEE THREE WHITE GUYS IN A ROOM.

DO YOU AGREE WITH PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT YOU NEED A PERSON OF COLOR IN THE ROOM TO KNOW THE CONCERNS OF THAT COMMUNITY, OR ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT THE LEADERS OF THOSE HOUSES ARE TAKING THOSE AS WELL FROM THEIR CAUCUS AND USING THAT FORWARD?

>> LISTEN, I ALWAYS LISTEN TO MY LEADERSHIP TEAM.

LIKE I WAS THE FINAL -- MY VOICE, BUT THE SENATE PRESIDENT ALWAYS IS THE FINAL VOICE.

THE SPEAKER'S ALWAYS THE FINAL VOICE.

THE REASON WHY I LASTED AS LONG AS I DID, DAVID, WAS BECAUSE I LISTENED TO MY TEAM.

I LISTENED TO MY MEMBERS.

LISTEN, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T -- TO ME, IT REALLY DOESN'T -- RACE IS -- AS THEY PUT IT, IT'S NOT -- IF IT WAS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN ELECTED AND THEY WERE THE LEADER, I'M FINE WITH THAT.

IT'S NEVER BEEN THAT.

BUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS WHEN YOU PUT YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM TOGETHER, HEY, LISTEN, WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY.

NICK WON THE VOTE.

RIGHT?

NICK WON THE VOTE.

NIA WAS CHALLENGING HIM, AND NICK WON THE VOTE OVERWHELMINGLY.

AND THAT WAS BLACK AND BROWN MEMBERS SUPPORTING HIM.

AND PACIFIC ASIAN, BECAUSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, VIN'S THERE.

SO MY POINT IS, WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY.

IF A WHITE PERSON HAPPENS TO WIN, IT'S BECAUSE THEY GOT THE SUPPORT OF THE BODY.

YOU KNOW, SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE LOOKING TO TAKE MY PLACE.

NO ONE WAS DOING IT BEFOREHAND, BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY SUPPORTED ME, BUT ONCE THEY REALIZED I WAS LOSING, SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE MY PLACE.

AND THE MEMBERSHIP DECIDED.

I'VE READ SOME OF SENATOR GILL'S COMMENTS.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE BODY TAKING A VOTE AND THE BODY DECIDING WHO THEY WANT TO LEAD THEM?

>> SO, WHAT SKILLS DID YOU DEVELOP OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR TERM AS PRESIDENT?

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS IMAGE OF YOU AS, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE AN IRON WORKER AND YOUR HANDS ARE THE SIZE OF BASEBALL MITTS.

BUT YOU'RE GENERALLY A LOW KEY GUY, EXCEPT THAT YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO GET INTO A FIGHT.

YOU HAD TO HAVE LEARNED THOSE NEGOTIATION SKILLS AND THOSE COMPROMISE SKILLS OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR TERM, YEAH?

>> WELL, A LOT OF IT, BUT DAVID, I LEARNED A LOT OF MY POLITICS THROUGH MY FATHER.

MY FATHER WAS A LABOR LEADER, AND WHAT HE TAUGHT ME IS THAT YOU HAVE TO CARE ABOUT PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

YOU REALLY -- ONE, I LIKE PEOPLE.

SO, WHEN MY MEMBERS HAVE A PRIORITY, THEN IT BECOMES MY PRIORITY.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AS BEST AS I CAN TO GET SOMETHING DONE.

SO, MY FATHER, LIKE I SAID, I LEARNED FROM MY FATHER, AND HE GAVE ME SOME SKILLS AND TRAITS THAT I'M BLESSED -- YOU KNOW, MY FATHER WOULD HAVE MADE FDR LOOK LIKE A CONSERVATIVE.

THAT'S HOW LIBERAL MY DAD WAS.

I USED TO FRUSTRATE HIM BECAUSE I'M A MODERATE.

BUT HE ALWAYS USED TO TELL ME, YOU GOT TO LOOK OUT FOR THE LITTLE GUY.

ALWAYS LOOK OUT FOR THE GUY THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE -- DOESN'T HAVE ALL THE MONEY, DOESN'T HAVE THE SIGHT, AND THEN FOR ME, I LEARNED TO LISTEN BETTER.

I REALLY LISTENED, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN ART ITSELF, TO LISTEN AND ABSORB, NOT JUST LISTEN TO LOOK AT EACH OTHER AND THEN WALK OUT OF A ROOM AND SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW, TO HELL WITH HER, TO HELL WITH HIM, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

SO FOR ME, IT'S REALLY CARING ABOUT PEOPLE, BEING FIERCELY LOYAL TO YOUR FRIENDS, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT I HAVE DONE.

>> YOU HAVE SOME REGRETS, I WOULD IMAGINE.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN 12 YEARS, MISTAKES, MAYBE, THAT YOU THINK YOU MADE?

>> YEAH.

LISTEN, EVERYONE'S HUMAN.

ONE, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED ME THE QUESTION.

I NEVER OPPOSED GAY MARRIAGE.

I NEVER OPPOSED IT.

I MADE A MISTAKE IN VOTING TO ABSTAIN, AND YOU KNOW, DAVID, IN MY GUT, THE SECOND IT HAPPENED, I KNEW I MADE A MISTAKE, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING POLITICALLY OR WHEN YOU'RE -- AND I NEVER DID ANYTHING, AND I CAN SWEAR TO GOD, EVERYTHING I DID WAS FROM PRINCIPLE.

AND WHEN I ABSTAINED FROM THAT VOTE, I WAS SO MAD AT MYSELF.

SO, WHAT I DID, THE VERY SESSION, I JUST BECAME SENATE PRESIDENT, UNDER THE PREVIOUS SENATE PRESIDENT, HE HAD 14 VOTES.

THAT VERY NEXT SESSION, I GOT 24.

>> YEAH.

>> WE PASSED IT.

AND WE JUST PASSED IT AS I'M LEAVING OFFICE, AND WHAT EXCITES ME THE MOST IS I HAD 35 VOTES, DAVID.

YOU KNOW, BACK THEN, I HAD ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE, BILL.

THIS TIME AROUND, 35 SENATORS VOTED TO SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

>> I KNOW THERE WAS ANOTHER DAY THAT -- MAYBE YOU DON'T REMEMBER IT, BUT IT WAS AN INTERVIEW THAT YOU WERE DOING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, AND YOU WERE BUTTING HEADS WITH CHRIS CHRISTIE AT THE TIME, AND SOMEBODY ASKED -- IT WAS RIGHT AFTER SANDY, AND SOMEBODY ASKED YOU SOMETHING, AND YOU SAID, OH MAYBE WHAT HE NEEDS -- DO YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?

>> I REMEMBER THAT.

I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, DAVID?

I WASN'T FEELING GOOD.

NO EXCUSES.

AND I DON'T LIKE READING SPEECHES, AS YOU KNOW.

I KIND OF DO MY OWN THING, WHICH CAN GET YOU IN TROUBLE AT TIMES.

SO, I WALK IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM AND I'M LOOKING AT THE SPEECH, AND I'M READING THE SPEECH, AND I LOOK UP AND I LOOK AT MICHAEL AARON, AND I'M LOOKING AT HIS FACE, AND I'M THINKING, THIS ISN'T ME.

SO, I THREW THE SPEECH DOWN, AND I GOT GOING.

AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?

SOMETIMES YOU CAN MAKE AN [ BLEEP ] OUT OF YOURSELF.

>> WE GAVE THE GOVERNOR A JOBS PACKAGE.

WE GAVE HIM ONE.

HE VETOED IT.

AND HIS JOB PACKAGE IS A HURRICANE.

I GUESS HE PRAYED A LOT AND A STORM CAME.

I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.

I APOLOGIZE FOR SAYING THAT.

>> AS SOON AS -- I FELT LIKE THE CARTOON WHERE YOU SEE THE WORDS COMING OUT AND YOU'RE TRYING TO PUSH THEM BACK IN.

AS SOON AS I SAID IT, I'M LIKE, OH [ BLEEP ].

AND RIGHTFULLY SO, EVERYONE WAS CONDEMNING ME.

>> WE ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT BECAUSE WE PLAYED THAT A LOT IN THE CONTROL ROOM WHEN WE ENDED UP HAVING A GOOD LAUGH AT YOUR EXPENSE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> I'LL LET YOU KNOW THAT ONE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> BUT, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN REALLY POWERFUL DAYS TOO.

I MEAN, IS THERE A DAY OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS WHERE YOU SAY, MAN, I REMEMBER THAT.

IT REALLY HIT ME.

IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL DAY OR A POWERFUL DAY.

>> HEY, YOU KNOW, DAVID, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THEM, AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAKE -- WHEN I SAY THIS, LIKE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BILLS I PASSED WAS THE -- WAS BANNING THE W WWO WORD "RETARDED."

AND THAT'S AN UGLY WORD, DAVID.

AND LIKE, MY DAUGHTER'S DIFFERENTLY ABLED, BUT I DON'T VIEW MY DAUGHTER AS RETARDED.

I THINK SHE'S JUST DIFFERENT, JUST LIKE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

SO, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOK, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BODY OF WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, DAVID, MINIMUM WAGE, PAID FAMILY LEAVE, YOU KNOW, PAID SICK LEAVE, PAY EQUITY, REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE, WHAT WE DID WITH THE S-RACKS, THE OFFSHORE WIND, THAT WAS OURS THAT THE ENTIRE COAST COPIED.

PENSION REFORM, BENEFIT REFORM.

THE 2% CAP THAT -- YOU WANT TO SAY REGRET?

THAT'S ONE I REGRET NOT TAKING TO ZERO.

BECAUSE WE DID 2%, AND THE GOVERNMENTS ARE LIVING UNDER 2%, SO GOING TO ZERO WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I COULD NEVER GET THERE.

I COULD NEVER GET THERE.

I COULD HAVE GOT THERE.

I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE IT.

>> THAT WAS DURING THE CHRISTIE ERA.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT WAS IT LIKE, REALLY, DEALING WITH CHRIS CHRISTIE?

I MEAN, THIS IS A MAN OF NO SMALL EGO, YOU KNOW?

AND YOU ALMOST PAID A LOT FOR THAT RELATIONSHIP.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, TADAVID, I TL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, I SAY, I'VE NEVER BASED MY FRIENDS ON REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

IT'S LIKE IF YOU'RE GOING TO A BAR TO WOOCH A FOOTBALL GAME, YOU START TALKING TO SOMEBODY, DO YOU SAY, HEY, ARE YOU A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN?

I CAN'T TALK TO YOU.

CHRISTIE WAS GREAT TO WORK WITH.

AND HE WAS EVEN MORE FUN TO FIGHT WITH.

AND WE HAD SOME LEGENDARY BATTLES, BUT YOU KNOW, IF HE GAVE YOU HIS WORD, IT WAS HIS WORD.

IT WAS DONE.

AND LIKE I SAID, BEING A DEMOCRAT, I'VE BEEN CRITICIZED FOR BEING FRIENDS WITH CHRISTIE.

>> THERE WAS ONE TIME WHEN HE DID SOMETHING AND YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO PUNCH HIM IN THE FACE.

>> PUNCH HIM IN THE HEAD.

AND I CALLED HIM A LOT OF BAD NAMES.

>> YES.

>> IT WAS JULY 3rd, AND THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE IN THE "STAR LEDGER," 2011, AND I THOUGHT YOU COULDN'T PRINT THOSE WORDS.

THAT'S WHY I SAID THOSE WORDS.

AND I FOUND OUT YOU CAN PRINT THOSE WORDS.

YOU JUST HAVE TO -- THEY ONLY HAD TO TAKE THE ONE OUT THAT BEGAN WITH AN "F" AND IN FRONT OF EVERY ONE OF THEM, AND I MEANT IT THEN, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

I REALLY DID MEAN IT THEN.

I WAS SO ANGRY BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY THAT I CARE ABOUT.

>> BUT YOU FELT IT WAS A NET PLUS IN THE END, WORKING WITH HIM?

>> YEAH, WE GOT A LOT DONE.

>> YEAH.

>> DAVID, HOW ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION RESTRUCTURING?

HOW MANY GOVERNORS TRIED TO DO THAT?

WE DID IT.

RUTGERS WENT FROM, LIKE, $216 MILLION IN RESEARCH DOLLARS TO OVER $800 MILLION NOW.

YOU KNOW, RUTGERS IS A JUGGERNAUT.

IT'S OUR STATE UNIVERSITY.

WE CREATED ROWAN UNIVERSITY, REALLY, LIKE ROWAN IS THE ONLY -- ONLY THE SECOND SCHOOL IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE AN MD, A D.O., AND A VETERINARY PROGRAM THAT'S COMING ON.

ONLY TWO.

MICHIGAN STATE'S THE OTHER.

AND ROWAN WENT FROM 8,500 KIDS TO 23,000.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW PROUD I AM OF THAT KIND OF STUFF.

>> SO, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF GOVERNORS YOU'VE DEALT WITH, WE ALL IN THE MEDIA MADE A LOT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH PHIL MURPHY, THE CURRENT GOVERNOR, AND DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU ALWAYS GOT ALONG.

>> NO.

>> BUT HOW WAS THAT RELATIONSHIP COMPARED TO CHRIS CHRISTIE OR THE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIS CHRISTIE IF YOU COULD?

>> WELL, LISTEN, IN THE BEGINNING -- WITH CHRIS CHRISTIE, WE HAD OUR HONEST DISAGREEMENTS AND WE MOVED ON.

WE NEVER MADE THEM PERSONAL.

FIRST TWO -- THE FIRST TWO YEARS WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY, I WAS THE MOST VETOED LEGISLATOR IN THE STATE.

ON BILLS THAT WERE UNANIMOUS.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND OH, BY THE WAY, I'M THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST VETOED LEGISLATOR IN THE STATE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE GOT BEYOND THAT.

DAVID, WE GOT BEYOND THAT.

AND WE GOT A LOT OF -- I AGREE WITH WHAT GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID.

WE GOT A LOT DONE.

WAS IT WARM AND FUZZY?

NO.

BUT WE GOT TO A POINT WHERE WE RESPECTED EACH OTHER, AND WE GOT THINGS DONE, AND I'M PROUD OF SOME OF THE STUFF WE GOT DONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I SAID THAT I WASN'T GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE, BUT I ONLY HAVE A FEW MINUTES LEFT, SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE NOW.

I HAVE THREE SUGGESTIONS FOR YOU.

RIGHT?

NUMBER ONE -- AND THEN YOU TELL ME HOW YOU LIKE THEM.

NUMBER ONE, RUN FOR YOUR SENATE SEAT AGAIN, UNDER CONSIDERATION?

>> I'M NEVER GOING TO SAY NEVER.

>> THAT CAN'T BE THE ANSWER FOR ALL THREE QUESTIONS.

SO, YOU WON'T SAY WHETHER YOU'LL RUN FOR SENATE AGAIN?

I PUT THAT ONE OUT AS THE FIRST ONE BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE BEST ONE.

YEAH, YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THE SENATE THING.

SO HERE'S THE OTHER ONE.

RUN FOR -- NO.

START A THINK TANK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT THINGS, AND YOU CAN CALL IT PATH TO PROGRESS.

>> I'M GOING TO -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO CALL IT PATH TO PROGRESS, BUT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO DO A THINK TANK AT A UNIVERSITY, AND IF YOU HEARD WHAT THE SPEAKER AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT SAID YESTERDAY, AFFORDABILITY.

WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON AFFORDABILITY.

THAT GOES RIGHT UP MY ALLEY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE ABOUT.

AND IF WE WORK TOGETHER, DAVID, IF WE WORK TOGETHER, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, WE CAN COME UP WITH BIG SOLUTIONS.

AND UNLIKE OTHER -- LIKE IN WASHINGTON AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THE OTHER SIDE LOSES, MY GOAL IS TO WORK WITH THE OTHER SIDE, THE BEST AND -- THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST OF THE OTHER SIDE TO PUT IDEAS TOGETHER TO ADVANCE TO THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE THIS STATE MORE AFFORDABLE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO, YOU WOULD, LIKE, ISSUE REPORTS.

YOU'D TAKE ON ISSUES AND SAY, HERE'S HOW WE SO THIS, ET CETERA?

>> YEAH, GO TO LEGISLATURE, SIT DOWN WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP ON BOTH SIDES, AND TRY TO PUSH THE BALL, YOU KNOW, UP THE HILL.

>> ALL RIGHT, DO YOU HAVE A UNIVERSITY PICKED OUT?

>> LOOKED AT A COUPLE OF THEM RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'LL ANNOUNCE THAT PROBABLY IN FEBRUARY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU'LL COME BACK HERE TO DO IT WITH US, OF COURSE.

>> SURE.

>> AND THE LAST SUGGESTION IS, RUN FOR GOVERNOR, BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.

>> OH, DAVID, I'VE WANTED TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN THE PAST.

AND THAT'S AN OPTION THAT I CAN LOOK AT IN THE FUTURE.

I CAN TELL YOU, I CAN WORK WITH BOTH SIDES, AND HONESTLY, ALL I WANT TO DO IS FIX THIS PLACE.

AND THE REALITY IS, IT IS SO FIXABLE.

AND MY SMALL LEVEL, WHEN I RAN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT WHERE I COME FROM, WE DID FIND WAYS TO CUT COSTS.

WE DID IMPROVE SERVICES.

WE DID THINGS BETTER.

AND AGAIN, SO, THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN OPTION THAT I WANT TO LOOK AT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY, AND YOU KNEW I WOULDN'T, SO I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.

>> WELL, LISTEN, YOU KNOW, IF I DIDN'T ASK -- STATE OF THE STATE THIS WEEK.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE STATE?

HOW IS IT?

>> THE STATE OF THE STATE'S OKAY.

THE PROBLEM IS WE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO CUT COSTS OF GOVERNMENT DOWN.

AND HERE'S -- THE GOOD NEWS IS, WE GOT SO MUCH ROOM TO PLAY WITH, BECAUSE WE'RE SO EXPENSIVE BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THIS BOUTIQUE GOVERNMENT.

WE CAN BRING THE COSTS DOWN.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, BECAUSE OF PATH TO PROGRESS, WE GOT 70 SCHOOL DISTRICTS STUDYING CONSOLIDATION.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

THERE ARE REAL THINGS.

>> THAT'S REALLY GOT TO HAPPEN, THOUGH.

I MEAN, CONSOLIDATION HAS TO MOVE FROM, HEY, GOOD IDEA, TO, HERE'S 20 CITIES WHO ARE GOING TO SHARE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR WHATEVER.

FIRE DEPARTMENT MIGHT NOT BE PRACTICAL.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

YOU NEED A BIG GESTURE IN THAT AREA, NO?

>> YEAH, AND -- BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, THOSE THINGS ARE OUT THERE AND THEY'RE BEING STUDIED NOW AND THEY'RE BEING STUDIED WITH STATE FUNDS.

SO, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, DAVID?

THEY'RE PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE WHERE YOU CAN SAVE LOTS OF MONEY WITHOUT MOVING KIDS AROUND AND MAKING THINGS INCONVENIENT, BUT YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION, LIKE A COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, REALIZE, WE PASSED A BILL AND IT'S ON THE GOVERNOR'S DESK NOW, FOR CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

EVERY SINGLE SORGS GOT ON BOARD EXCEPT ONE, THE SUPERINTENDENTS.

EVERYONE GOT ON BOARD.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

BECAUSE YOU CAN DO THIS WITHOUT HURTING PEOPLE.

WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO HURT PEOPLE.

WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO TRY TO START BRINGING THE COST OF GOVERNMENT INTO A PLACE WHERE IT'S MORE AFFORDABLE.

I'M TELLING YOU, I HEARD NICK'S SPEECH YESTERDAY.

I HEARD -- I HEARD CRAIG'S.

IT'S AFFORDABILITY.

IF WE'RE NOT LISTENING -- AND FUNNY THING IS, WHO HAD THE BIGGEST VOICE ON THIS FOR THE LAST TWO DECADES?

ME.

AND I GOT BEAT.

I GOT BEAT.

I'M THE ONE THAT'S SCREAMING, WE GOT TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE, AND I ACTUALLY WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE AFFORDABLE.

THAT'S HOW I KNEW, DAVID, IT WAS A RED WAVE, BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE BODY OF WORK THAT WE HAVE DONE, YOU CAN'T SAY THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE OUR JOB.

IS THERE MORE TO DO?

YES.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

STEVE SWEENEY, IRON WORKER, PRIVATE CITIZEN.

VACATION FOR A COUPLE DAYS NOW?

>> NOPE.

BUT I GOT TO GRAB THIS CALL FROM MY AIRLINE.

>> PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANKS FOR COMING ON WITH US.

CLEARLY, WE ARE ON STEVE SWEENEY TIME NOW.

THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

OUR THANKS AGAIN TO STEVE SWEENEY.

HEY, BE SURE TO JOIN US TUESDAY AT 11:00 A.M.

WHEN WE BRING YOU LIVE COVERAGE OF GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY'S INAUGURAL FROM THE PATRIOTS THEATER AT THE TRENTON WAR MEMORIAL.

I'LL BE ANCHORING THE COVERAGE AND WE'LL HAVE COLLEEN O'DAY, MICHAEL AARON, AND LOTS OF SPECIAL GUESTS WHO WILL BE JOINING US, SO HOPEFULLY YOU'LL JOIN US TUESDAY, 11:00 A.M. ON NJ PBS AND ALL OF OUR STREAMING PLATFORMS.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER, @DAVIDCRUZNJ, AND BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR MORE STUFF, INCLUDING BEYOND THE BOX, WEB EXTRAS, NJ "BUSINESS BEAT," NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, AND LIVESTREAMS OF OTHER IMPORTANT EVENTS.

I'M DAVID CRUZ.

FOR ALL THE CREW OVER HERE, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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