Chris Christie in Chris Christie: The Inside Story, by Bob Ingle and Michael Symons
On Abortion:
1994: Donated to Planned Parenthood; opposed public donation
1994: Donated to Planned Parenthood; opposed public donation
During the general election campaign, when Democratic candidates called for the county to restore its former annual $35,000 contribution to Planned Parenthood of Greater Northern NJ, which was eliminated in 1989 after an abortion controversy,
1994: Donated to Planned Parenthood; opposed public donation
Planned Parenthood privately with my personal contribution and that should be the goal of any such agency, to find private donations," he said. "It's also no secret that
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 49
Jun 5, 2012
On Abortion:
1996: partial birth procedure is reprehensible
1996: partial birth procedure is reprehensible
In July 1996, the freeholder board voted 5-2 for a resolution urging Congress to override President Bill Clinton's April veto of a bill that would have banned most "partial birth" abortions. The item was raised by Christie at a work session. "It offended
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 54
Jun 5, 2012
On Abortion:
Pro-choice until seeing daughter pre-natally
Pro-choice until seeing daughter pre-natally
In a 2011 interview, Christie said his conversion on the issue had occurred in 1995. It followed a doctor's visit made 6 months before his daughter's birth."I had been pro-choice before that. It was just kind of the default position that I took,"
Pro-choice until seeing daughter pre-natally
And we heard this incredibly strong heartbeat. And I remember we came separately. And I was driving back to work, I said to myself, you know, as to my position on abortion, I would say that a week ago that wasn't a life. And I heard that heartbeat.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 54
Jun 5, 2012
On Abortion:
1996: Switched from pro-choice to pro-life
In January 2011, Christie--who'd been pro-choice until 1996, but he says changed his mind after hearing his daughter's heartbeat during a prenatal visit when Mary Pat was 13 weeks pregnant with their 2nd child, Sarah--became the
first NJ governor to address abortion rights opponents at their annual protest at the State House to mark the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. "What we need to do each and every day is to live our lives in a way that encourages everyone to
understand why this cause is so important," Christie said. "To show that we respect the life of every human being, and that every human being is one of God's creatures and deserves the love and respect that God gives to all of us."
His critics said Christie was pandering to the right wing of his party with an eye toward garnering their support in a future campaign for national office.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.201-202
Jun 5, 2012
On Abortion:
Eliminate family planning funding from state budget
Christie angered many of the Democratic women in the legislature, but thrilled social conservatives, by eliminating so-called family planning funding from the state budget. The name's a bit of a misnomer; the program provides health care services
such as pap smears and mammograms to women and doesn't fund abortions. But because some of the funds went to Planned Parenthood centers, conservatives say the funding essentially enables such centers to be able to use other revenues to provide a service
they find morally reprehensible. Christie argued that low-income women can access the health services they need at other clinics, primarily Federally Qualified Health Centers, in repeatedly vetoing
Democrats' efforts to provide $7.5 million in family planning funds. Democrats framed the family planning cuts as part of a bigger picture in which Christie has some sort of problem with women.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.205
Jun 5, 2012
On Budget & Economy:
Let government shutdown occur, until Legislature is ready
Let government shutdown occur, until Legislature is ready
On one occasion, there was a special session to pass a state budget because the July 1 constitutional deadline was not met. In political theater rare for him,
Let government shutdown occur, until Legislature is ready
Later, in mocking Corzine during and after a 2010 showdown with Democrats over taxes, Christie said if the state government ever shuts down because there is no budget he wouldn't drag a cot into his office.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.128
Jun 5, 2012
On Budget & Economy:
2011: 2% cap on most cities' municipal spending
[In 2010] Christie ordered the legislature into a special session to address property tax reform. The first municipal spending cap votes were held in
April 2011, though few municipalities--only 14 of the state's 566 cities and towns--sought voters' permission to exceed the 2% cap. Christie's plan had worked.
After getting the 2% cap, Christie wasn't done with school spending. He put in place a salary cap on school superintendents' contracts--through a rule, without the legislature's input.
It would mean $9.8 million in savings statewide for school districts, around 10% of the combined $100 million they paid in 2010.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.198-199
Jun 5, 2012
On Civil Rights:
Marriage is an institution between one man & one woman
Democrats announced at a State House news conference they would introduce in both houses a marriage equality bill. NJ's civil union law was being challenged in court and the feeling was if it made it to the state Supreme Court the civil union law would
\
I believe marriage is an institution between one man and one woman. I think it's special and unique in society. And I think we can have civil unions that can help to give the same type of legal rights to same sex couples that marriage gives them.
But I just think marriage is a special connotation. And I couldn't see myself changing my mind on that. But I am in favor of making sure that homosexual couples have the same type of legal rights that same--that heterosexual couples have."
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.212-213
Jun 5, 2012
On Civil Rights:
Homosexuality is not a sin; people are born that way
Homosexuality is not a sin; people are born that way
Asked whether homosexuality is a sin, Christie said he doesn't think so. "My religion says it's a sin. I mean, I think--but for me I don't--I've always believed that people are born with the predisposition to be homosexual. And so, I think if someone is
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.213
Jun 5, 2012
On Corporations:
Casino regulators keep working during government shutdowns
Casino regulators keep working during government shutdowns
Few people noticed [the state government shutdown one July under Governor Corzine]. The biggest problem the shutdown caused was that state casino inspectors weren't working, meaning the casinos couldn't operate.
Casino regulators keep working during government shutdowns
Later, sending an unmistakable signal on his 1st full day in office that he'd begun preparing for a budget fight, Christie signed an executive order deeming casino regulators as essential employees like the state police
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.128
Jun 5, 2012
On Corporations:
Cut business taxes by $600 million annually
When McGreevey was governor and desperate for money, he and the Democrats in the legislature increased taxes on the wealthy--a hike known by its shorthand name as a millionaire's tax. Corzine and the legislature passed their own millionaire's tax in 2009
Christie ran a no-tax-hike pledge and the idea was to introduce the new millionaire's tax after he took office and force him to sign it, breaking his word, which of course Democrats would use against him.
It didn't work, he didn't sign it.
His critics claimed he'd cut taxes for his millionaire friends. It was a lie. The tax rate had not changed since Christie took office.
At the same time, Christie and the legislature cut business taxes to the tune of $185 million the 1st year,
growing to more than $600 million in cuts annually by the 5th year, to encourage expansion and job creation. Democratic efforts to raise taxes on millionaires also continued in Christie's 2nd year, ending with the same veto.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.194-195
Jun 5, 2012
On Crime:
1994: Pushed for faster construction of county jail
1994: Pushed for faster construction of county jail
Christie hit the campaign trail, seeking to be a Morris County freeholder, which is similar to a county councilman or commissioner. Christie's team went after county management, especially regarding the slow progress in construction of a new jail. It
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 47-48
Jun 5, 2012
On Crime:
1995 juvenile justice plan: individualized to child's needs
1995 juvenile justice plan: individualized to child's needs
Christie was the freeholder board's liaison to the county Department of Human Services, and in that role looked often to the private sector and to shared services as a way to keep costs down. For instance, the board privatized a center that helped
1995 juvenile justice plan: individualized to child's needs
a troubled child's individual needs, rather than given in blocks to community-based agencies. "It really stands the traditional system on its head.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 53
Jun 5, 2012
On Crime:
Increased criminal convictions each year from 2002 to 2007
Increased criminal convictions each year from 2002 to 2007
As US attorney, every year from 2002 through 2007, his office recorded more criminal convictions than the year before. There were more than 1,000 convictions for violent crime, including 800 convictions of felons illegally using firearms. He used RICO
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 80
Jun 5, 2012
On Drugs:
1995: Applied 25% of county salary to drug addict residence
1995: Applied 25% of county salary to drug addict residence
At the January 1995 freeholder meeting where he was sworn into political office for the first time, he wasted little time making waves, asking fellow freeholders at that first session to
1995: Applied 25% of county salary to drug addict residence
The money saved by those moves was applied to treatment beds for drug-addicted county residents at Daytop Village.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 50
Jun 5, 2012
On Drugs:
Blocked implementation of medical marijuana laws
[When Christie switched publicly from pro-choice to pro-life in 2011], his critics said Christie was pandering to the right wing of his party with an eye toward garnering their support in a future campaign for national office.
Some thought the same when he tossed up a series of roadblocks in the implementation of a medical marijuana law that had been signed into law by Corzine the last day before Christie took office.
Christie said he worried the law could lead to problems like those experienced in California and Colorado. His administration advanced rules that limited the strength of the marijuana that can be grown and sold, and
18 months after the bill's enactment most of the 6 medical marijuana centers that are planned haven't found homes, as local residents fend off the new businesses.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.202
Jun 5, 2012
On Education:
1984: As student, made speech to Delaware state Senate
1984: As student, made speech to Delaware state Senate
Christie graduated in 1980, then headed off to the University of Delaware, where he got involved in student government and met his future wife, Mary Patricia Foster.
1984: As student, made speech to Delaware state Senate
It happened in part through university politics, with Chris en route to a bachelor's degree in political science he would earn in 1984. His sophomore year,
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 30-31
Jun 5, 2012
On Education:
Wife and children attended parochial schools
Wife and children attended parochial schools
The Christie children attend Catholic school--a point critics would use to question his sincerity about public education, generating an angry & consistent none-of-your-business response. "That's my choice, and my wife's choice. We happen to believe that
Wife and children attended parochial schools
schools. I think it's an important part of our children's growth as human beings," Christie said. "But guess what? I still pay $38,000 a year in property taxes, most of which goes to the public school system in my town. And we don't utilize it.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 39
Jun 5, 2012
On Education:
1999: Lobbied for Edison Schools, for-profit school operator
1999: Lobbied for Edison Schools, for-profit school operator
After his defeat, Chris Christie returned full attention to work at Dughi & Hewit. Their 3rd biggest lobbying client was Edison Schools, the for-profit private operator of public schools, including charter schools in Jersey City and Trenton.In 1999,
1999: Lobbied for Edison Schools, for-profit school operator
The bill capped the number of students who can leave a district for charter schools at 7% of enrollment. Christie asked that the cap not apply to the 31 districts, most of them poor and urban, that were covered by a long-running school-funding lawsuit.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 61-62
Jun 5, 2012
On Education:
Allow students in failing schools to attend better schools
[Christie debated Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan on radio in the GOP primary of 2009]. Christie and Lonegan differed on details of a school voucher program.
Christie said they should enable students whose schools are failing to attend better schools in neighboring towns willing to accept them. Lonegan said they should be used to promote competition between public and private schools within cities.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.138
Jun 5, 2012
On Education:
Vote down school budgets unless teachers freeze pay
In NJ, most of the roughly 600 school districts have elections in which voters can approve education budgets. They're held in April and largely go unnoticed by the majority of the electorate. In a series of town hall meetings, Christie pushed his reform
agenda and began to encourage people to vote down school budgets in districts where teachers didn't agree to freeze their pay. In one a teacher rose to challenge him, resulting in one of those YouTube moments. The governor told her no one was forcing her
to teach. Voters seemed to like it. They defeated school budgets in record numbers--more than 58% of tax levies defeated, the 1st time since 1976 that more than half the school budgets were defeated. Turnout was nearly 27%; it had never before reached
19%.Did the governor cause that? It seems so. The following year, Christie didn't campaign against school budgets, and a larger-than-normal share of them passed--80%, the most in 8 years. Turnout fell by 1/3, though it still topped historical norms.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.197
Jun 5, 2012
On Energy & Oil:
Consider windmills off NJ coast
[Christie debated Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan on radio in the GOP primary of 2009].
Christie said he would consider power-generating windmills off the Jersey coast; Lonegan said they were a money-draining experiment.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.138
Jun 5, 2012
On Energy & Oil:
Pulled out of ten-state Regional Greenhouse Gas program
Americans for Prosperity in 2010 circulated a document to politicians asking them not to support climate change legislation. Christie did not sign it. He did, however, pull out of the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative program (RGGI).
Christie called RGGI a failure that would result in higher energy taxes and render the state uncompetitive with neighbors not in the program such as Pennsylvania. RGGI was an effort by the supporting states to tackle climate change issues by
charging companies for polluting emissions but allowing them to buy credits from firms that don't pollute, which would theoretically offer economic incentive to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.Critics saw a pattern developing.
Christie scaled back renewable energy goals, scaled back rebates for solar panels at residences, vetoed a bill that would have banned frocking, a process of using pressurized fluid to release gas and petroleum for extraction.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.240-241
Jun 5, 2012
On Environment:
Canceled work on new Hudson River rail tunnel NYC to NJ
Canceled work on new Hudson River rail tunnel NYC to NJ
One of Corzine's highly touted projects had been in development for years but was being speeded up as a job-creating stimulus for construction trades. It also afforded the chance to get photos of Corzine with other
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.143-144
Jun 5, 2012
On Environment:
Rejected $9B transit project as "tunnel to Macy's basement"
Christie had a run-in over what was called the nation's largest mass transportation project by supporters and "the tunnel to Macy's basement" by critics. For years there had been plans to build a new rail tunnel from Jersey to Manhattan. It was a dumb
idea. The NY end of the $9 billion tunnel did not terminate at Penn Station, but about 180 feet under Macy's department store. It wouldn't connect to Grand Central Station or any of the rail lines on Manhattan's east side.NY refused to pay its share.
It would have been paid for by NJ, Washington, and the Port Authority of NY and NJ, so in effect, Jersey paid twice. But NJ alone was responsible for any cost overruns, which were estimated to be $2 billion to $5 billion, but given the history of such
projects, that was a very conservative guess.
Christie killed it, saying NJ taxpayers would still be on the hook for overruns: "I cannot place upon the citizens of NJ an open letter of credit. Proponents are asking me to hand over a blank check."
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.232-234
Jun 5, 2012
On Government Reform:
Stricter limits on PAC campaign donations
Stricter limits on PAC campaign donations
That 1st race introduced several reform themes that would be associated with Christie throughout his political career. He pledged to propose bills against "inflated pensions" for lawmakers, calling them "inappropriate for part-time legislators."
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 46
Jun 5, 2012
On Government Reform:
1998: Opposed spending $15,000 for new public utility logo
1998: Opposed spending $15,000 for new public utility logo
In a missive that hinted at the crusades he'd wage years later against independent authorities and perceived wasteful spending, no matter how miniscule, he wrote a letter to the editor criticizing the
1998: Opposed spending $15,000 for new public utility logo
Instead of `rocking the boat' and asking the tough questions, they choose to sit by silently while the
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 64
Jun 5, 2012
On Government Reform:
1997: Doubled size of US Attorney's anti-corruption unit
1997: Doubled size of US Attorney's anti-corruption unit
The US attorney's office in NJ had a solid reputation--before Christie arrived--for prosecuting corrupt political figures, although Christie said he felt rooting out political corruption had taken a backseat. Then a special agent created the
1997: Doubled size of US Attorney's anti-corruption unit
Under Christie, that reputation was taken to new heights. NJ political corruption is like a small lake full of fish, where a dedicated prosecutor need only cast a net to gather a basketful of potential criminals.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 75
Jun 5, 2012
On Government Reform:
Judges who legislate from the bench will not be reappointed
Judges who legislate from the bench will not be reappointed
On radio the subject of the state's controversial left-leaning Supreme Court was debated. Lonegan and Merkt said they would replace all justices who came up for lifetime--after 7 years on the bench.
Judges who legislate from the bench will not be reappointed
If in fact you're interpreting the constitution and interpreting the statutes, then you have an opportunity to be reappointed," Christie said.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.137
Jun 5, 2012
On Government Reform:
Forced resignations at Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission
Take the states bountiful supply of independent authorities--each with a well-intentioned purpose, but also serving as a mostly unchecked pit for patronage and government largesse. Governors have long had a team in their chief counsel's office
keeping tabs on the shadow government. Christie's squad shone a light on their spending--with torches, not flashlights, to help the new governor send a message to the bureaucracy that the party was over.In his first month in office,
Christie vetoed the minutes of 4 authorities, thus rendering moot whatever they were trying to do. He also forced the head of the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission to resign over his $313,000 annual salary. The governor is paid $175,000.
Later, almost 100 people were fired, stepped down, or arrested from the commission. Minutes for authorities, boards, and commissions had rarely been vetoed by governors, but he did so more than 2 dozen times in his first 2 years.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.191
Jun 5, 2012
On Gun Control:
We already have too many firearms in our community
We already have too many firearms in our community
In April 1993 Christie announced that he would challenge incumbent state senator John Dorsey, an 18-year lawmaker, in the Republican primary. It was a big and brassy move because Dorsey was the Senate majority leader.
We already have too many firearms in our community
NJ's ban on semiautomatic weapons. The ban was among the signature pieces of legislation passed."The issue which has energized me to get into this race is the recent attempt by certain Republican legislators to repeal NJ's ban on assault weapons.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 45-46
Jun 5, 2012
On Gun Control:
2009: No right-to-carry cross-state reciprocity
The governor opposed a move in Congress that would effectively override NJ's strict laws against concealed weapons although NJ's entire Republican House delegation voted for it. The "right-to-carry reciprocity" bill would allow anyone
with a valid permit to carry in their home state the same right in any other state. In NJ holders of carry permits from other states must lock their guns up when entering the Garden State."I believe that each state should have the right
to make firearms laws as they see fit.
I don't believe it's right for the federal government to get into the middle of this and decide firearms laws for the people of the state of NJ," Christie told "The Record" in July 2009.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.253
Jun 5, 2012
On Gun Control:
Favors gun control measures from law-enforcement perspective
In 2009, Christie said on Fox News with Sean Hannity that he supported some gun control measures:Q: Are there any issues where you are moderate to left as a Republican?
A: I favor some of the gun-control measures we have in NJ.
Q: Bad idea.
A:
We have a densely populated state, and there's a big handgun problem in NJ. On certain gun control issues, looking at it from a law-enforcement perspective, seeing how many police officers were killed, we have an illegal gun problem in NJ.
Q: Should
every citizen in your state be allowed to get a licensed weapon if they want one?
A: In NJ, that's not going to happen.
Q: Why?
A: With the Democratic legislature we have, there's no way those type of things--
Q: Would you support it?
A: What
I support are commonsense laws that will allow people to protect themselves, but I also am very concerned about the safety of our police officers on the streets, very concerned. And I want to make sure that we don't have an abundance of guns out there"
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.253-254
Jun 5, 2012
On Health Care:
Prosecuted politicians & their cronies, including jail time
Prosecuted politicians & their cronies, including jail time
I knew Chris Christie as a federal prosecutor of politicians I tracked for years as a NJ State House reporter. He took down Wayne Bryant, the veteran state senator from Camden County who had taxpayers outfit him with a red Lincoln Town Car; he jailed
Prosecuted politicians & their cronies, including jail time
Jail time for those three is something I never thought I would see.Christie prosecuted the Garden State icons for using their positions to benefit themselves or their cronies, a long-standing tradition in NJ--one politicians practiced with impunity.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. xi-xii
Jun 5, 2012
On Health Care:
Allow insurers to sell "mandate-free" policies
Allow insurers to sell "mandate-free" policies
In 1979, when Christie was a high school senior, [his mother] Sandy developed breast cancer. She survived, thanks to early detection and treatment. Her story later became part of Christie's 2009 race for governor, when Democrats aired misleading ads
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 21
Jun 5, 2012
On Health Care:
2002-2006: uncovered $800M in medical kickbacks to doctors
2002-2006: uncovered $800M in medical kickbacks to doctors
The nation learned a lot about the medical industry's darker side when Christie initiated an investigation into potential kickbacks to doctors from the sellers of hip and knee replacements. A trusting public took it for granted that physicians always did
2002-2006: uncovered $800M in medical kickbacks to doctors
Federal officials said hip and knee companies paid out about $800 million to doctors from 2002 through 2006.Four of the top hip and knee replacement companies agreed to pay $311 million to settle the probe. A 5th company, which had cooperated,
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.109-110
Jun 5, 2012
On Homeland Security:
Patriot Act OK to monitor library book selections
Patriot Act OK to monitor library book selections
Christie has defended the Patriot Act, including one highly controversial portion of the law that allowed the government to investigate what materials people had taken out of public libraries. "The USA Patriot Act is, I believe, the single biggest reason
Patriot Act OK to monitor library book selections
When the Justice Department in 2007 recommended that prosecutors seek warrants to secure the most precise
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 82
Jun 5, 2012
On Homeland Security:
FBI inappropriately detained many people after 9/11
FBI inappropriately detained many people after 9/11
In July 2011, Christie said the FBI inappropriately detained many people after 9/11. He did so as part of a forceful defense of appointing Sohail Mohammed as the state's first Indian American and second Muslim judge. Conservative bloggers and some
FBI inappropriately detained many people after 9/11
I'm tired of dealing with the crazies," Christie said. "It's just unnecessary to be accusing this guy of things just because of his religious background.""Ignorance is behind the criticism of
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 83
Jun 5, 2012
On Principles & Values:
Interest in politics started at age 14 in Junior High School
Interest in politics started at age 14 in Junior High School
Chris Christie knew from childhood, at an age when most kids dreamed of being a firefighter or an astronaut, that he wanted to be a trial lawyer. When he was 10 years old and his grandmother asked what he wanted for Christmas, Chris said he wanted a law
Interest in politics started at age 14 in Junior High School
Republican nomination for governor, spoke at his school and struck a chord.Whatever caused the spark, at that point Christie decided he wanted to be involved in politics. After he excitedly told his mother about the guest speaker and his desire to
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 27-28
Jun 5, 2012
On Principles & Values:
1995: Unapologetic about taking on the establishment
1995: Unapologetic about taking on the establishment
In a 5-candidate race where 3 people won, Christie finished in the running in only 7 of Morris County's 39 towns. Christie said he was the victim of "a $250,000 2x4 of negative campaigning.""I have to accept this; I have no choice. When you place
1995: Unapologetic about taking on the establishment
wrong. "The most polite way for me to have proceeded would have been to blend into the background and not make waves. But I was elected because I espoused a certain set of ideas. I felt a moral obligation to pursue those ideas, even if it was politically
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 58-59
Jun 5, 2012
On Principles & Values:
Lifelong struggle with weight, despite repeated efforts
Corzine ran ads showing Christie stepping from an SUV in slow motion, his girth moving in several directions at once under his shirt. And just to drive the point home, a voice-over said that Christie "threw his weight around" in trying to avoid traffic
tickets. Corzine appeared to be trying to send a subtle message that Christie was reckless with his health and maybe so in other ways.Christie handled it with humor: "I'm slightly overweight. Apparently this has become a great cause of discussion.
I don't know what that has to do with being governor."
For Christie, his weight had been a lifelong struggle, starting when he was a chubby kid. He said in 2012, "There is a certain compulsiveness at times to my eating." He would make repeated efforts
to lose weight. Losses were often followed by gains, even after as governor he began to see a dietician, hooked up with a personal trainer, and worked out four days a week. "I weigh too much because I eat too much. And I eat some bad things, too."
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.156-157
Jun 5, 2012
On Principles & Values:
Occupy Movement and Tea Party agree on anger at government
I believe that the Occupy movement and the Tea Party movement come--their genesis--are from the same feeling, which is an anger that government can't get things done, Christie said. "And so, now, that is the last similarity between the
Tea Party movement and the Occupy movement. But I believe that the cause for their anger comes from the same place. They look at Washington DC and they look at a president who a bystander in the Oval Office."
He said, "I mean, I will tell you that I think both parties deserve blame for what's going on in Washington DC, both parties do.
They're spending more time talking at each other than talking with each other. We all know what the solutions to these problems are, we've done them in NJ in many areas, but we don't have the political will to get them done."
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.244
Jun 5, 2012
On Tax Reform:
2009: Single tax rate would raise taxes for low earners
2009: Single tax rate would raise taxes for low earners
Christie looked beyond the GOP skirmish, targeting Corzine, while Lonegan focused on the primary. Lonegan wanted to ditch the state's progressive income tax for a single rate of 2.9%, eventually dropping to 2.1%.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.138
Jun 5, 2012
On Technology:
Eliminate all funding for NJ public broadcasting
Christie announced his intention to eliminate all state funding for NJ's public broadcaster, including NJN, New Jersey Network. Philosophically, he didn't think the state should be in the news business and with a $10 billion deficit, the state had to
trim anywhere it could. About 130 NJN workers were on the state payroll with hefty benefits.Governor Christie Whitman, also a Republican, compared NJN to Pravda, the Soviet Union-controlled propaganda machine. Even Democrats, such as Corzine, had
floated the idea of privatizing NJN.
Fast-forward to 2011, when Christie finally pulled the plug on NJN. After considering several proposals, his administration settled on a plan to sell NJN's 9 small radio stations for about $4.3 million (less than
half of it in cash, and for less than the stations' appraised value) but hold on to the TV licenses and cut a deal with WNET, a NY-based public broadcaster considered the nation's flagship PBS station, to run the NJ operation, which was renamed NJTV.
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p.176-178
Jun 5, 2012
On Welfare & Poverty:
1996: Working poor hurt by limits on childcare subsidies
1996: Working poor hurt by limits on childcare subsidies
When Governor Christine Todd Whitman proposed welfare reforms in 1996, Christie signed a letter written on behalf of the freeholder board urging changes to the plan, because, he said, the working poor could be hurt by proposed rules on subsidized child
1996: Working poor hurt by limits on childcare subsidies
"Many working poor are at risk of losing their childcare subsidy," wrote the freeholders. "Loss of childcare may mean a parent will no longer be able to work and will have to go on welfare, setting up a vicious cycle which
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 53-54
Jun 5, 2012
Page last updated: Jan 26, 2013