Sweeney takes aim at economy, pensions with 2017 on horizon

The contest to pick Gov. Chris Christie’s successor in 2017 gets closer, and possible Democratic candidate Senate President Steve Sweeney appears to be mending his relationship with influential unions in new ways.

Sweeney this week proposed a raft of bills he hopes would spur the economy if enacted, boosting the state’s revenue and enabling for pension payments above Christie’s recent proposals.

He’s also proposed amending the state constitution to require New Jersey to make quarterly pension payments, a measure backed by labor.

Sweeney says the actions have nothing to do with running for governor.

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But experts say it’s hard to ignore the 2017 implications.

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