By Matt Friedman | The Star-Ledger
on July 28, 2014
NEWARK — State Senate President Stephen Sweeney said Gov. Chris Christie's push for new pension cutbacks is part of his strategy to run for president in 2016.
“The end game is to make himself the darling of the national political scene again,” Sweeney said at a Star-Ledger editorial board meeting today.
Sweeney (D-Gloucester) also said there is “zero” chance that legislative Democrats will make a deal with Christie to further cut back pensions for public workers, which they did three years ago.
“He broke his word. He didn’t make the payment,” Sweeney said. “So why would I do anything if he’s not keeping his word?”
Sweeney worked with Christie in 2011 to make cuts to public workers’ pension and health benefits. As part of the deal, the state was required to gradually increase its payments into the system after years of shorting it.
But faced with huge budget shortfalls after years of over-estimating state revenue, Christie filled the holes by skipping more than $2 billion in payments through June of 2015.
Christie has begun touring the state to gin up support for his plan, even though he has not announced exactly what he wants to do . Christie has said he hopes to have the plan in place by the end of the summer , and has has suggested it would involve moving new public workers into a 401k-type system instead of pensions.
Sweeney’s sponsorship of the 2011 cutbacks to public pensions and benefits strained his already-tense relationship with public workers’ unions. But Sweeney said he could at least tell them at the time that the government was kicking up its contributions.
“The labor people were not on my side when I did the previous reforms, but my comments were ‘I have the payment guaranteed.’ Now you know what I have? I have nothing,” Sweeney said. “So how do I go back to people in good faith and say ‘trust me this time… I’m going to double-pinky swear it will work this time?’”
But just as Christie is considered a likely candidate for president in 2016, Sweeney is expected to run for governor in 2017 – or earlier, if Christie leaves office before his term is up to pursue the presidency.
Sweeney denied that his resistance to pension changes has anything to do with his own ambitions.
“This has nothing to do with running for any other office,” Sweeney said. “This has to do with keeping the commitment.”
Sweeney said he has “no idea” whether Christie will leave office early, but that he personally thinks Christie will leave before the next budget has to be passed in June 2015. Sweeney said he can’t imagine Christie would want to deal with the un-funded Transportation Trust Fund.
“That’s my guestimate. Everyone has a guess,” Sweeney said. “For me, I don’t know how he does another budget because he has to deal with the Transportaiton Trust Fund, and has to provide a solution to it. And the pensions. So you have a big number of major issues coming at you. And they’re not going away.”
Monday, July 28, 2014
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
“Remembering Lauren Rousseau” Posted: Wednesday / 7.23.2014 / 11:20 AM
“Remembering Lauren Rousseau”
Posted: Wednesday / 7.23.2014 / 11:20 AM
NJ State PBA President's message:
I wanted to thank all the members who turned out yesterday in Long Beach Island. While some in the media categorized our gathering as a protest, those who were there know that is far from the truth. We stood in solidarity with firefighters, teachers and other concerned public employees and residents in remembrance of Sandy Hook Elementary School teacher Lauren Rousseau who the park was built for. It seems callous that the Governor would kick off his campaign to call for public workers to make more sacrifice at a park dedicated to a teacher who made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Governor and his staff may have been looking to create a YouTube moment, hoping cops would be yelling and shouting him down as he spoke, but they did not get it. The officers who were present at the park exemplified the best of who we are with their conduct and presence. The silence of the more than 200 members present was louder than anything the Governor said.
There will be a time and place to protest the Governor and what he is doing. Yesterday was a day to make sure the memory of Lauren Rousseau was not forgotten. I thank all the officers who made sure the media and public remembered this location not for a town hall meeting, but for an outstanding teacher who lost her life doing what she loved.
Christie vs. Astorino: New York hopeful slams governor for lack of support
Christie vs. Astorino: New York hopeful slams governor for lack of support
By Brent Johnson | The Star-Ledger
on July 23, 2014
TRENTON — On Monday, Gov. Chris Christie gave a simple reason for why he isn’t planning to make New York a campaign stop on his national tour as head of the Republican Governors Association: The GOP’s attempt to defeat Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was a "lost cause."
On Tuesday, the party’s candidate in that race — Rob Astorino — shot back at Jersey’s outspoken governor.
Astorino said Christie should resign as the RGA chair for not supporting a fellow Republican. And he suggested the governor could be shying away from this race because of "a connection" with Cuomo over the George Washington Bridge scandal.
"If he’s unable to do his job as RGA chair to help Republican candidates, including the one in New York, if there’s a side deal or a quid pro quo or a handshake between the two of them, then obviously he can’t do his job," Astorino, the Westchester County executive, said during a radio interview on WGDJ 1300 AM.
The dustup came in the middle of Christie’s ever-busy schedule as chairman of the RGA, a group that raises money for Republican hopefuls throughout the county. Christie has traveled to nearly two dozen states to campaign for candidates, raising a record $60 million in the process — and helping boost his own profile as he considers a run for president in 2016.
During a campaign visit to Connecticut on Monday, Christie said even though New Jersey is right next to New York, it’s unlikely he’ll campaign for Astorino in his attempt to oust Cuomo.
"I will spend time in places where we have a chance to win — I said that right from the beginning,” Christie told reporters.
"We don’t pay for landslides and we don’t invest in lost causes," he added. "If the New York race becomes competitive, I’ll consider campaigning in the New York race. But right now, by the public polls, there’s a lot more competitive races like this one in Connecticut."
A Sienna College poll released Monday shows Cuomo holds a 37 percentage-point lead over Astorino.
But during a news conference in Manhattan Tuesday, Astorino suggested Christie isn’t doing his job as RGA chair by declining to back him.
"My take is maybe it’s inconvenient to come over the bridge to New York to help a Republican candidate for governor here," Astorino said. "That’s his call, whether he wants to or not. But as RGA chair, he has governors and candidates who have a chance to win, and it’s incumbent upon him to help all of us."
Astorino then suggested the bridge scandal may be playing a role, though he didn’t make specific allegations.
"I don’t know if there’s a connection between him and Andrew Cuomo on Bridgegate, or if Cuomo has something that he’s holding back — information that could be damaging to the governor," Astorino said. "Whatever Gov. Christie knew or didn’t know is probably the same for Gov. Cuomo. And if there’s anything being held back that Gov. Cuomo knows and if he’s holding that over Gov. Christie’s head, I don’t know."
Christie’s office and Cuomo’s office declined comment. But David Paterson, the former New York governor who heads the state Democratic Party, shot down the claims related to the bridge controversy.
"That is a reckless, irresponsible accusation to make with no basis whatsoever, and not fitting for a qualified gubernatorial candidate," Paterson said in a statement. "Maybe that’s why his candidacy is not being taken seriously."
Christie and Cuomo both appoint officials to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the bistate agency that oversees tunnels and bridges between the states.
Federal prosecutors and members of a New Jersey state legislative committee are investigating whether members of Christie’s office conspired with his allies at the Port Authority to close lanes at the George Washington Bridge last September, causing days of heavy traffic in Fort Lee. Democrats allege the scheme was hatched because Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor refused to endorse Christie for re-election. Christie has denied personal involvement, and he and Cuomo have announced a joint initiative to reform the Port Authority.
Despite his comments Monday, Christie has campaigned for underdog Republicans.
In New Hampshire, where the GOP has yet to nominate a candidate, Christie appeared on the campaign trail last month with gubernatorial hopeful Walt Havenstein — who was trailing Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan by more than 31 percentage points, according to a June poll. Christie is scheduled to take another trip to New Hampshire, which holds the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, next week.
He also campaigned in Iowa for the state’s five-term governor, Terry Branstad, who shows little signs he needs a boost to win re-election. Branstad has far more cash on hand than his Democratic challenger, and a recent Marist poll showed him with a double-digit lead and a 58 percent approval rating.
NJ Advance Media reporter Matt Arco contributed to this report.
By Brent Johnson | The Star-Ledger
on July 23, 2014
TRENTON — On Monday, Gov. Chris Christie gave a simple reason for why he isn’t planning to make New York a campaign stop on his national tour as head of the Republican Governors Association: The GOP’s attempt to defeat Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was a "lost cause."
On Tuesday, the party’s candidate in that race — Rob Astorino — shot back at Jersey’s outspoken governor.
Astorino said Christie should resign as the RGA chair for not supporting a fellow Republican. And he suggested the governor could be shying away from this race because of "a connection" with Cuomo over the George Washington Bridge scandal.
"If he’s unable to do his job as RGA chair to help Republican candidates, including the one in New York, if there’s a side deal or a quid pro quo or a handshake between the two of them, then obviously he can’t do his job," Astorino, the Westchester County executive, said during a radio interview on WGDJ 1300 AM.
The dustup came in the middle of Christie’s ever-busy schedule as chairman of the RGA, a group that raises money for Republican hopefuls throughout the county. Christie has traveled to nearly two dozen states to campaign for candidates, raising a record $60 million in the process — and helping boost his own profile as he considers a run for president in 2016.
During a campaign visit to Connecticut on Monday, Christie said even though New Jersey is right next to New York, it’s unlikely he’ll campaign for Astorino in his attempt to oust Cuomo.
"I will spend time in places where we have a chance to win — I said that right from the beginning,” Christie told reporters.
"We don’t pay for landslides and we don’t invest in lost causes," he added. "If the New York race becomes competitive, I’ll consider campaigning in the New York race. But right now, by the public polls, there’s a lot more competitive races like this one in Connecticut."
A Sienna College poll released Monday shows Cuomo holds a 37 percentage-point lead over Astorino.
But during a news conference in Manhattan Tuesday, Astorino suggested Christie isn’t doing his job as RGA chair by declining to back him.
"My take is maybe it’s inconvenient to come over the bridge to New York to help a Republican candidate for governor here," Astorino said. "That’s his call, whether he wants to or not. But as RGA chair, he has governors and candidates who have a chance to win, and it’s incumbent upon him to help all of us."
Astorino then suggested the bridge scandal may be playing a role, though he didn’t make specific allegations.
"I don’t know if there’s a connection between him and Andrew Cuomo on Bridgegate, or if Cuomo has something that he’s holding back — information that could be damaging to the governor," Astorino said. "Whatever Gov. Christie knew or didn’t know is probably the same for Gov. Cuomo. And if there’s anything being held back that Gov. Cuomo knows and if he’s holding that over Gov. Christie’s head, I don’t know."
Christie’s office and Cuomo’s office declined comment. But David Paterson, the former New York governor who heads the state Democratic Party, shot down the claims related to the bridge controversy.
"That is a reckless, irresponsible accusation to make with no basis whatsoever, and not fitting for a qualified gubernatorial candidate," Paterson said in a statement. "Maybe that’s why his candidacy is not being taken seriously."
Christie and Cuomo both appoint officials to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the bistate agency that oversees tunnels and bridges between the states.
Federal prosecutors and members of a New Jersey state legislative committee are investigating whether members of Christie’s office conspired with his allies at the Port Authority to close lanes at the George Washington Bridge last September, causing days of heavy traffic in Fort Lee. Democrats allege the scheme was hatched because Fort Lee’s Democratic mayor refused to endorse Christie for re-election. Christie has denied personal involvement, and he and Cuomo have announced a joint initiative to reform the Port Authority.
Despite his comments Monday, Christie has campaigned for underdog Republicans.
In New Hampshire, where the GOP has yet to nominate a candidate, Christie appeared on the campaign trail last month with gubernatorial hopeful Walt Havenstein — who was trailing Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan by more than 31 percentage points, according to a June poll. Christie is scheduled to take another trip to New Hampshire, which holds the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, next week.
He also campaigned in Iowa for the state’s five-term governor, Terry Branstad, who shows little signs he needs a boost to win re-election. Branstad has far more cash on hand than his Democratic challenger, and a recent Marist poll showed him with a double-digit lead and a 58 percent approval rating.
NJ Advance Media reporter Matt Arco contributed to this report.
Christie, Malloy renew attacks on each other after Connecticut trip
Christie, Malloy renew attacks on each other after Connecticut trip
By Brent Johnson | The Star-Ledger
on July 23, 2014
TRENTON — The rivalry between Gov. Chris Christie and Connecticut Gov. Dannell Malloy has apparently been renewed, according to published reports.
Christie, a Republican, and Malloy, a Democrat, butted heads a few years ago over their stance on tax hikes and public worker pensions. Malloy even dubbed himself "the anti-Christie."
On Monday, Christie — who has been traveling the country as chairman of the Republican Governors Association — visited Connecticut to campaign for Tom Foley, one of the GOP hopefuls challenging Malloy's re-election bid this year.
There, he blasted Malloy's economic record and vowed to return to the state "again and again and again" to help elect a governor that could do better.
"I know, as a guy who has won twice in a blue state, these are winnable races," Christie told reporters during an appearance at a diner in Greenwich, according to a report by the Hartford Courant. "We'll be here a lot between now and Nov. 4."
On Tuesday, Malloy responded by slamming Christie for his position on gun control and his own economic record in New Jersey during an interview with the Associated Press. He also chastised Connecticut Republicans for aligning with Christie.
"I want everyone to look at New Jersey and assume that Tom Foley would do the same thing, or (John) McKinney would to the same thing to Connecticut that he's done to New Jersey, which is basically drive it closer and closer to bankruptcy," Malloy told the news agency. "That's what they're embracing when they embrace Governor Christie."
Foley, the state GOP's endorsed candidate, and state Senate Minority Leader John McKinney will battle in August's primary for the Republican nomination to face Malloy in November's general election.
Christie and Malloy's rivalry stretches back to 2011, when Malloy proposed raising taxes in his state by $1.5 billion. Christie responded by saying he would "be at the border to take Connecticut's jobs when he does it."
"I suppose I'm the anti-Christie," Malloy later told reporters.
This is the second time Christie has endorsed Foley, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. He backed Foley over Malloy when the two previously battled for the governor's office in 2010 — a race that ended with Malloy being elected to his first term.
"Gov. Malloy's thrilled I'm here today," Christie said during his appearance in Connecticut on Monday. "And I know that he'll be thrilled when I come here again and again and again to do the best I can to make sure that Connecticut has a governor that will bring growth to the state and jobs and its economy.
"Dan Malloy's had four years to do that," he added. "He hasn't done it. And so he can say whatever he wants about me. I happen to like Dan personally. I think he's a decent guy. I just don't think he's a good governor. He tends to say a lot of inflammatory things about me, and I'm just not going to return fire on a personal level."
Malloy criticized Christie, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, during a few public appearances Tuesday.
"I don't mind comparing Connecticut on a whole bunch of fronts to New Jersey. I don't at all," he said, according to the Courant report. "You look at what his leadership has done to the state of New Jersey, increasing debt substantially, un-funding the pension plan .. it is a disaster waiting to happen."
Newtown gun control advocates protest Chris Christie’s Connecticut trip
About 150 protesters - including several dozen from Newtown, Conn. site of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School - gathered on a quiet street in Greenwich where New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was attending a fund raiser for Republican gubernatorial hopeful Tom Foley. The protesters were there to speak out against Christie’s veto of a bill that would have limited gun magazines to ten rounds. (video by Brian Donohue / The Star-Ledger)
Christie was recently faced with a sudden $1.7 billion gap in the state budget. He chose to fill it in part by reducing planned payments to the state's public-worker pension system — rejecting a plan by Democrats to hike taxes on millionaires and businesses instead.
Unions filed a lawsuit to stop him and critics said the move will saddle New Jersey with more long-term debt, but Christie said the state's pension system is too costly to sustain and promised to unveil new reforms later this summer.
Malloy also criticized Christie for declining to meet with parents of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting earlier this month when they visited New Jersey to urge him to sign a gun control bill introduced in the wake of the massacre to reduce the size of ammunition magazines from 15 to 10 rounds in New Jersey. The 2012 shooting killed 26 students and teachers in Newtown, Conn.
Christie vetoed the bill, calling it "trivial" and saying he didn't believe it would prevent such shootings. He added that he did not meet with the parents because he had already decided to sign the veto and did not want to be hypocritical.
"Here's a governor that refused to meet with the survivors of Newtown and called their concerns trivial," Malloy told the AP on Tuesday. "If that's what Republicans want to tie themselves to in our state, god bless them. I hope he comes a lot."
Jerry Labriola Jr., chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party, called it "unfortunate that Dan Malloy must resort to inflammatory language concerning a neighboring governor."
Labriola praised Christie as a leader with the ability to bring people together.
"However, what our governor fails to mention is that, like in Hartford, the purse strings of New Jersey are controlled by a Democrat legislature," he said. "So, I'm sure that much of Gov. Christie's free-market agenda is being stymied by the Democrats' blue-state brand of big government and overreach."
By Brent Johnson | The Star-Ledger
on July 23, 2014
TRENTON — The rivalry between Gov. Chris Christie and Connecticut Gov. Dannell Malloy has apparently been renewed, according to published reports.
Christie, a Republican, and Malloy, a Democrat, butted heads a few years ago over their stance on tax hikes and public worker pensions. Malloy even dubbed himself "the anti-Christie."
On Monday, Christie — who has been traveling the country as chairman of the Republican Governors Association — visited Connecticut to campaign for Tom Foley, one of the GOP hopefuls challenging Malloy's re-election bid this year.
There, he blasted Malloy's economic record and vowed to return to the state "again and again and again" to help elect a governor that could do better.
"I know, as a guy who has won twice in a blue state, these are winnable races," Christie told reporters during an appearance at a diner in Greenwich, according to a report by the Hartford Courant. "We'll be here a lot between now and Nov. 4."
On Tuesday, Malloy responded by slamming Christie for his position on gun control and his own economic record in New Jersey during an interview with the Associated Press. He also chastised Connecticut Republicans for aligning with Christie.
"I want everyone to look at New Jersey and assume that Tom Foley would do the same thing, or (John) McKinney would to the same thing to Connecticut that he's done to New Jersey, which is basically drive it closer and closer to bankruptcy," Malloy told the news agency. "That's what they're embracing when they embrace Governor Christie."
Foley, the state GOP's endorsed candidate, and state Senate Minority Leader John McKinney will battle in August's primary for the Republican nomination to face Malloy in November's general election.
Christie and Malloy's rivalry stretches back to 2011, when Malloy proposed raising taxes in his state by $1.5 billion. Christie responded by saying he would "be at the border to take Connecticut's jobs when he does it."
"I suppose I'm the anti-Christie," Malloy later told reporters.
This is the second time Christie has endorsed Foley, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. He backed Foley over Malloy when the two previously battled for the governor's office in 2010 — a race that ended with Malloy being elected to his first term.
"Gov. Malloy's thrilled I'm here today," Christie said during his appearance in Connecticut on Monday. "And I know that he'll be thrilled when I come here again and again and again to do the best I can to make sure that Connecticut has a governor that will bring growth to the state and jobs and its economy.
"Dan Malloy's had four years to do that," he added. "He hasn't done it. And so he can say whatever he wants about me. I happen to like Dan personally. I think he's a decent guy. I just don't think he's a good governor. He tends to say a lot of inflammatory things about me, and I'm just not going to return fire on a personal level."
Malloy criticized Christie, a potential 2016 presidential candidate, during a few public appearances Tuesday.
"I don't mind comparing Connecticut on a whole bunch of fronts to New Jersey. I don't at all," he said, according to the Courant report. "You look at what his leadership has done to the state of New Jersey, increasing debt substantially, un-funding the pension plan .. it is a disaster waiting to happen."
Newtown gun control advocates protest Chris Christie’s Connecticut trip
About 150 protesters - including several dozen from Newtown, Conn. site of the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School - gathered on a quiet street in Greenwich where New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was attending a fund raiser for Republican gubernatorial hopeful Tom Foley. The protesters were there to speak out against Christie’s veto of a bill that would have limited gun magazines to ten rounds. (video by Brian Donohue / The Star-Ledger)
Christie was recently faced with a sudden $1.7 billion gap in the state budget. He chose to fill it in part by reducing planned payments to the state's public-worker pension system — rejecting a plan by Democrats to hike taxes on millionaires and businesses instead.
Unions filed a lawsuit to stop him and critics said the move will saddle New Jersey with more long-term debt, but Christie said the state's pension system is too costly to sustain and promised to unveil new reforms later this summer.
Malloy also criticized Christie for declining to meet with parents of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting earlier this month when they visited New Jersey to urge him to sign a gun control bill introduced in the wake of the massacre to reduce the size of ammunition magazines from 15 to 10 rounds in New Jersey. The 2012 shooting killed 26 students and teachers in Newtown, Conn.
Christie vetoed the bill, calling it "trivial" and saying he didn't believe it would prevent such shootings. He added that he did not meet with the parents because he had already decided to sign the veto and did not want to be hypocritical.
"Here's a governor that refused to meet with the survivors of Newtown and called their concerns trivial," Malloy told the AP on Tuesday. "If that's what Republicans want to tie themselves to in our state, god bless them. I hope he comes a lot."
Jerry Labriola Jr., chairman of the Connecticut Republican Party, called it "unfortunate that Dan Malloy must resort to inflammatory language concerning a neighboring governor."
Labriola praised Christie as a leader with the ability to bring people together.
"However, what our governor fails to mention is that, like in Hartford, the purse strings of New Jersey are controlled by a Democrat legislature," he said. "So, I'm sure that much of Gov. Christie's free-market agenda is being stymied by the Democrats' blue-state brand of big government and overreach."
Chris Christie's puffery on tough choices
Main points: :...He’s right when he says the ship of state is heading straight into the rocks. Our fiscal crisis is now the nation’s second-worst, behind only Illinois. But he’s been steering all the while. He has won every budget fight since swearing his oath..."
"...The chutzpah is remarkable. Christie just exploded his own pension reform by failing to make $2.4 billion in promised payments. Public workers did their part by paying more into the fund, and taking out less. It was the governor who reneged...."
"...Christie knows that Democrats won’t support the lopsided deal he has in mind, especially after he broke his word the first time around. So what is his plan? The scary answer is that he wants to pick a fight that will impress Republican primary voters. Screaming at Democrats and the unions could be his political plan."
Chris Christie's puffery on tough choices
By Tom Moran/ Star-Ledger
on July 23, 2014
Gov. Chris Christie says he won’t campaign for the Republican gubernatorial candidate in New York because the cause is hopeless: Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ahead by more than 30 points.
But he will campaign in New Hampshire, over and over, where the Republican is also trailing by more than 30 points.
What’s the reason? It may be that New Hampshire holds the nation’s first presidential primary. It may be that he doesn’t want to mess with Cuomo, who knows where the skeletons are buried at the Port Authority.
But one thing is certain: Gov. Straight Talk is spinning again. And it seems to be habit-forming.
So what is his plan? The scary answer is that he wants to pick a fight that will impress Republican primary voters.
Now he is touring the state talking about the need to man up and face the tough choices on the budget. No pain, he says, no gain.
He’s right when he says the ship of state is heading straight into the rocks. Our fiscal crisis is now the nation’s second-worst, behind only Illinois.
But he’s been steering all the while. He has won every budget fight since swearing his oath.
The chutzpah is remarkable. Christie just exploded his own pension reform by failing to make $2.4 billion in promised payments. Public workers did their part by paying more into the fund, and taking out less. It was the governor who reneged.
He’s trying to hide that fact with Hollywood-style puffery. He’s even released a video full of tough-guy rhetoric.
“There is no way to fix a severe problem like this...but with pain,” he says.
The only thing missing is an actual plan to match the rhetoric. All he’s saying is that he won’t increases taxes on millionaires to help cover the cost. It will all come out of worker benefits, again.
Which means this is all politics, and no substance. Christie knows that Democrats won’t support the lopsided deal he has in mind, especially after he broke his word the first time around.
So what is his plan? The scary answer is that he wants to pick a fight that will impress Republican primary voters. Screaming at Democrats and the unions could be his political plan.
Let’s hope not. The state really is in trouble. The credit rating has been downgraded six times on Christie’s watch, and his stunt on the pensions is sure to drive it down again.
In 2011, Christie made a deal with Democrats that made sense to both sides, and that steered the state to safer ground.
In 2014, his priorities have changed. Now it’s about snappy videos, snappy slogans, and a path to the White House.
So watch out, Illinois. We are coming after you.
"...The chutzpah is remarkable. Christie just exploded his own pension reform by failing to make $2.4 billion in promised payments. Public workers did their part by paying more into the fund, and taking out less. It was the governor who reneged...."
"...Christie knows that Democrats won’t support the lopsided deal he has in mind, especially after he broke his word the first time around. So what is his plan? The scary answer is that he wants to pick a fight that will impress Republican primary voters. Screaming at Democrats and the unions could be his political plan."
Chris Christie's puffery on tough choices
By Tom Moran/ Star-Ledger
on July 23, 2014
Gov. Chris Christie says he won’t campaign for the Republican gubernatorial candidate in New York because the cause is hopeless: Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ahead by more than 30 points.
But he will campaign in New Hampshire, over and over, where the Republican is also trailing by more than 30 points.
What’s the reason? It may be that New Hampshire holds the nation’s first presidential primary. It may be that he doesn’t want to mess with Cuomo, who knows where the skeletons are buried at the Port Authority.
But one thing is certain: Gov. Straight Talk is spinning again. And it seems to be habit-forming.
So what is his plan? The scary answer is that he wants to pick a fight that will impress Republican primary voters.
Now he is touring the state talking about the need to man up and face the tough choices on the budget. No pain, he says, no gain.
He’s right when he says the ship of state is heading straight into the rocks. Our fiscal crisis is now the nation’s second-worst, behind only Illinois.
But he’s been steering all the while. He has won every budget fight since swearing his oath.
The chutzpah is remarkable. Christie just exploded his own pension reform by failing to make $2.4 billion in promised payments. Public workers did their part by paying more into the fund, and taking out less. It was the governor who reneged.
He’s trying to hide that fact with Hollywood-style puffery. He’s even released a video full of tough-guy rhetoric.
“There is no way to fix a severe problem like this...but with pain,” he says.
The only thing missing is an actual plan to match the rhetoric. All he’s saying is that he won’t increases taxes on millionaires to help cover the cost. It will all come out of worker benefits, again.
Which means this is all politics, and no substance. Christie knows that Democrats won’t support the lopsided deal he has in mind, especially after he broke his word the first time around.
So what is his plan? The scary answer is that he wants to pick a fight that will impress Republican primary voters. Screaming at Democrats and the unions could be his political plan.
Let’s hope not. The state really is in trouble. The credit rating has been downgraded six times on Christie’s watch, and his stunt on the pensions is sure to drive it down again.
In 2011, Christie made a deal with Democrats that made sense to both sides, and that steered the state to safer ground.
In 2014, his priorities have changed. Now it’s about snappy videos, snappy slogans, and a path to the White House.
So watch out, Illinois. We are coming after you.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Eddie Donnell discussing Fat Scum-bag Chris Christie's anti-working class video
"I was quickly sickened after watching Governor Christie’s latest Hollywood video," said Eddie Donnelly, president of the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association.
Donnelly said that pension contributions for firefighters rose from 8.5 percent to 10 percent under Christie’s first-term overhaul, and unlike the governor, firefighters can’t skip their payments.
"Our pension system does work," he said. "It is sustainable, and public safety personnel are not the cause of the current pension situation."
Donnelly said that pension contributions for firefighters rose from 8.5 percent to 10 percent under Christie’s first-term overhaul, and unlike the governor, firefighters can’t skip their payments.
"Our pension system does work," he said. "It is sustainable, and public safety personnel are not the cause of the current pension situation."
"The state’s economy is in ruins, and yet the governor is mocking the pain and suffering he’s causing middle-class families."
Christie posts then removes YouTube video mixing Hollywood with pension reform
By Salvador Rizzo | The Star-Ledger
on July 15, 2014
"The state’s economy is in ruins, and yet the governor is mocking the pain and suffering he’s causing middle-class families."
Trenton- Gov. Chris Christie’s staff, usually known for its social-media savvy, posted a YouTube video today that featured the unlikely combination of Hollywood-movie explosions and a governor talking pension reform.
And a few hours later, they pulled it down.
With the feel and dramatic score of an action-film trailer, the video clip by Christie’s press shop was meant to tease the governor’s plan to reform New Jersey’s troubled pension system, facing $40 billion in unfunded liabilities and growing, which Christie says he will unveil by summer’s end.
There were no details in the video, but there were plenty of gags, things blowing up and tag lines like "no pain, no gain." Also, the Rock made an appearance.
Christie’s staff even spliced some shots of one of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s movies. But Matt Katz, a reporter for WNYC, tweeted tonight that Johnson asked not to be included in the video, leading to its removal.
The clip’s light-hearted approach struck some New Jersey Democrats and the leaders of public employee unions as tone deaf. After all, they said, Christie had cut $2.4 billion from the legally required pension contributions he had vowed to make in 2010, saddling the ailing pension system with more long-term debt.
John Currie, chairman of the state Democratic Party, issued a statement saying, "The state’s economy is in ruins, and yet the governor is mocking the pain and suffering he’s causing middle-class families."
"Sadly, the governor’s bizarre Hollywood fantasy is not the action drama his team imagines, it’s a horror film that never seems to end," Currie said.
Christie’s most popular YouTube videos attract hundreds of thousands of viewers, and have helped build his brand as a potential presidential candidate. This one was posted around lunchtime and removed by about 7:30 p.m.
Christie’s spokesman, Michael Drewniak, who emailed the link to reporters earlier in the day, did not respond to messages asking why it was removed.
Christie has long touted a couple of laws he signed overhauling the pension system — getting public workers and taxpayers to chip more into the pension system every year until it regained its footing over 30 years — as his biggest achievement during his first term in Trenton.
But that was before Christie had to backtrack this year after his administration was far off the mark in forecasting state revenue for April. The Republican governor cut two legally required pension payments in the state budget from a combined $3.8 billion to $1.38 billion, spurring lawsuits from public-worker unions.
The cuts allowed Christie to balance his budgets, but they are projected to make life harder for the next governor, increasing the unfunded liabilities in the pension system by $4.2 billion over five years.
Christie says the current defined-benefit plans for New Jersey public workers who retire are too costly to sustain. But Democrats say the plans would be fine if Christie had kept his promise to make the bigger payments.
Instead, they proposed raising taxes on the state’s wealthiest earners and businesses to generate enough money to sustain the pension payments this year, but Christie vetoed their proposals.
"I was quickly sickened after watching Governor Christie’s latest Hollywood video," said Eddie Donnelly, president of the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association.
Donnelly said that pension contributions for firefighters rose from 8.5 percent to 10 percent under Christie’s first-term overhaul, and unlike the governor, firefighters can’t skip their payments.
"Our pension system does work," he said. "It is sustainable, and public safety personnel are not the cause of the current pension situation."
By Salvador Rizzo | The Star-Ledger
on July 15, 2014
"The state’s economy is in ruins, and yet the governor is mocking the pain and suffering he’s causing middle-class families."
Trenton- Gov. Chris Christie’s staff, usually known for its social-media savvy, posted a YouTube video today that featured the unlikely combination of Hollywood-movie explosions and a governor talking pension reform.
And a few hours later, they pulled it down.
With the feel and dramatic score of an action-film trailer, the video clip by Christie’s press shop was meant to tease the governor’s plan to reform New Jersey’s troubled pension system, facing $40 billion in unfunded liabilities and growing, which Christie says he will unveil by summer’s end.
There were no details in the video, but there were plenty of gags, things blowing up and tag lines like "no pain, no gain." Also, the Rock made an appearance.
Christie’s staff even spliced some shots of one of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s movies. But Matt Katz, a reporter for WNYC, tweeted tonight that Johnson asked not to be included in the video, leading to its removal.
The clip’s light-hearted approach struck some New Jersey Democrats and the leaders of public employee unions as tone deaf. After all, they said, Christie had cut $2.4 billion from the legally required pension contributions he had vowed to make in 2010, saddling the ailing pension system with more long-term debt.
John Currie, chairman of the state Democratic Party, issued a statement saying, "The state’s economy is in ruins, and yet the governor is mocking the pain and suffering he’s causing middle-class families."
"Sadly, the governor’s bizarre Hollywood fantasy is not the action drama his team imagines, it’s a horror film that never seems to end," Currie said.
Christie’s most popular YouTube videos attract hundreds of thousands of viewers, and have helped build his brand as a potential presidential candidate. This one was posted around lunchtime and removed by about 7:30 p.m.
Christie’s spokesman, Michael Drewniak, who emailed the link to reporters earlier in the day, did not respond to messages asking why it was removed.
Christie has long touted a couple of laws he signed overhauling the pension system — getting public workers and taxpayers to chip more into the pension system every year until it regained its footing over 30 years — as his biggest achievement during his first term in Trenton.
But that was before Christie had to backtrack this year after his administration was far off the mark in forecasting state revenue for April. The Republican governor cut two legally required pension payments in the state budget from a combined $3.8 billion to $1.38 billion, spurring lawsuits from public-worker unions.
The cuts allowed Christie to balance his budgets, but they are projected to make life harder for the next governor, increasing the unfunded liabilities in the pension system by $4.2 billion over five years.
Christie says the current defined-benefit plans for New Jersey public workers who retire are too costly to sustain. But Democrats say the plans would be fine if Christie had kept his promise to make the bigger payments.
Instead, they proposed raising taxes on the state’s wealthiest earners and businesses to generate enough money to sustain the pension payments this year, but Christie vetoed their proposals.
"I was quickly sickened after watching Governor Christie’s latest Hollywood video," said Eddie Donnelly, president of the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association.
Donnelly said that pension contributions for firefighters rose from 8.5 percent to 10 percent under Christie’s first-term overhaul, and unlike the governor, firefighters can’t skip their payments.
"Our pension system does work," he said. "It is sustainable, and public safety personnel are not the cause of the current pension situation."
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