Gov. Chris Christie opened a special legislative session this afternoon with a brief speech calling on Democrats to bring skyrocketing property taxes under control either through a constitutional amendment limiting tax hikes or a statutory cap that would do roughly the same thing.

Christie, a Republican, said he was offering a compromise to the Democrat-controlled Legislature in order to make the state more affordable.

“Before we leave for the summer, let us finish the job,” Christie said after thanking the Democrats for joining with him in passing an austere state budget on Tuesday. “We must act and we must act now…We must help the citizens take back their state.” Full story in