The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
(Bloomberg) — Everyone runs into death and taxes. New Jerseyans trundle on toward an afterlife in tax hell.
“I can afford to retire here,” said Susan Barbey, a 60-year-old resident of Ridgewood, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Manhattan. “I can’t afford to die here.” (Young/Bloomberg)
one of New Jersey’s many sins of the past Jon Corzine
Christie not responsible for ‘sins of the past’, but says he’s committed to fixing them
FREEHOLD — Appearing comfortable in this overwhelmingly Republican town, where former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won solidly over President Barack Obama in 2012, Gov. Chris Christie went about reassuring residents this afternoon that he is not responsible for the “sins of the past” that have left the state facing major fiscal problems — but that he won’t shy away from solving them either. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
Fixing school funding ‘single most frustrating arc’ of tenure, Christie says
FREEHOLD — At his 131st town hall here today, Gov. Chris Christie said his administration’s repeated failures to overturn the state’s school funding formula has been the “single most frustrating arc during my time as governor.” (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
INGLE: What’s gone wrong with Chris Christie?
Bob Ingle 6:31 p.m. EST March 6, 2015
TRENTON — Would the real Chris Christie please stand up? New Jerseyans who voted for a straight-shooting reformer and untypical politician are wondering if the guy they once loved was replaced by an imposter pod, like in the “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” movie.
One of the hotter topics around Trenton is a proposed Christie administration pollution settlement disclosed by The New York Times. Administrations going back to Jim McGreevey’s sought $8.9 billion from ExxonMobil. The Times reported the proposed settlement is a mere fraction of that, $250 million. It actually was only $225 million. A judge already has ruled the giant oil company is liable for pollution from refineries it once owned in Linden and Bayonne.
A former state Department of Environmental Protection commissioner, Brad Campbell, wrote in The Times that Christie’s chief counsel, Christopher Porrino, allegedly intervened to get a better deal for ExxonMobil, which was a big donor to the Republican Governors Association when Christie chaired it.
Speculation under the Gold Dome is Christie sold out the people of New Jersey for the equivalent of three cents on the dollar to balance his budget.
14 unions make common cause in suit against Christie
Fourteen unions under the auspices of the New Jersey AFL-CIO announced today that they want to take Governor Chris Christie to court to compel him to make New Jersey Annual Required Contribution to the pension system for FY 2016.
The suit presses Christie to follow the 2011 pension law he signed, specifically the requirements of Chapter 78. (Pizarro/PolitickerNJ)
While Democrats look to stamp out Free Speech , Christie and Teachers Union agree to Historic Pension Reforms
Christie lays out $33.8B budget; wants to make public pensions more similar to those in private sector
FEBRUARY 24, 2015, 1:00 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015, 10:42 PM
BY MELISSA HAYES AND DUSTIN RACIOPPI
STATE HO– USE BUREAU |
THE RECORD
Pitching what he said could become a “national model,” Governor Christie used his budget speech Tuesday to speak almost exclusively about pension reform, returning to the issue that won him national acclaim and one that sets up fights with unions and Democrats that control the Legislature.
The governor’s reforms – a sweeping package of pension freezes, new union-controlled benefit plans and health care changes — would need approval from lawmakers and from voters who would be asked to rewrite the state constitution. And it is unclear how long the changes would take to enact, how much taxpayers would save and what it would ultimately mean for the more than 400,000 active public workers — including teachers, police, firefighters, and state and local employees — earning pensions and benefits.
Christie delivered his budget address before the full Legislature.
“I am here today to ask you to do what may be politically difficult, but what is morally the right thing to do,” Christie said. “This is the type of leadership our state requires.”
Christie’s team began the morning with a 15-second social-media video publicizing the address and touting his plan as having the backing of the New Jersey Education Association, the powerful union that spent millions against him and opposed initial pension changes he signed into law in 2011. By Tuesday afternoon, the union’s leaders blasted the announcement of a partnership, calling it “embellished” and “overstated,” and saying enacting such reforms would be a lengthy and complex process.
Republican Leaders praise Christie’s pension ‘roadmap’
TRENTON — Two of Trenton’s top Republican leaders applauded Gov. Chris Christie’s commitment to fixing an ailing pension and benefit system moments after the executive delivered his latest budget address during a joint legislative session on the Assembly floor here today. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)
Christie focuses budget address on pension system
It was a rousing welcome but an unusual budget speech. (Aron/NJTV)
https://www.njtvonline.org/
Stile: Teachers union unlikely partner in Christie’s pension overhaul
Governor Christie sold it as one of the biggest political coups of recent New Jersey history — a plan to dramatically restructure New Jersey’s public-employee pension system with a new and very improbable partner, the New Jersey Education Association. (Stile/The Bergen Record)
Christie signs bill allowing simplifying towns’ selling of water systems to for-profits
FEBRUARY 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY JAMES M. O’NEILL
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Governor Christie signed a controversial bill Thursday that will make it easier for towns to sell their aging drinking water systems to for-profit companies by eliminating a public vote on such sales.
The bill pitted large for-profit water companies against an unusual alliance of groups opposing the proposal, including environmentalists and the state advocate for utility ratepayers, who say the bill could bring higher water rates.
Advocates of the bill, including state Sen. Paul Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge, said the changes would help towns escape the financial burden of making costly upgrades to systems that routinely leak up to 25 percent of treated water before it reaches customers.
The bill comes as towns try to figure out how to pay for upgrades to old water pipes, some of which were installed a century ago. The federal government estimates it will take $4.7 billion to upgrade New Jersey’s water infrastructure over the next 20 years.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/christie-signs-bill-easing-water-system-sales-1.1266069
Chris Christie really wanted to know how you spent Monday night, New Jersey
I don’t know if you have already heard about this, but there is this storm on the East Coast this week. Some places seem to care, I think.
Anyway, as the winter weather hit New Jersey on Monday, Gov. Chris Christie (R) advised residents to take note of the state-wide travel ban, asked that they check supplies of nonperishable food, and also told them to get at him on Twitter with their plans for that night. Because what else were they gonna do? There was a state-wide travel ban, guys.
Some people — cough cough — thought it was a bit … unexpected (?) to see Christie tweeting about Dunkin’ Donuts on Monday night, but others found it somewhat charming that the governor was so into everyone’sdrinking family-friendly entertainment. (Larimer/The Washington Post)
Christie at Edgewater fire scene: “I’m here to make sure” displaced not forgotten
EDGEWATER – New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, criticized in recent weeks for spending too much time traveling to set up a potential 2016 Republican presidential nomination bid, made sure that in the wake of Wednesday night’s devastating fire in Edgewater, he was front and center to offer the state’s help.
“At times like this, what people are most concerned about is being forgotten,” said Christie on Thursday as residents of the Edgewater apartment complex that was gutted by fire on Wednesday streamed into the borough’s community center seeking relief, some greeting the governor. “That’s why I’m here – to make sure that people know we will not forget. We will make sure that we do everything we can to try to assist them, and to have this transitional period be as short, safe and comfortable as it can be for themselves and their families, and then to move on from there.” (Bonamo/PolitickerNJ)
Scott Walker, Chris Christie heading to U.K next month
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker announced Wednesday he will be leading a trade mission to London next month — one day after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s office offered details about Mr. Christie’s own trip to the U.K. in the coming weeks. (Sherfinski/The Washington Times)
Chris Christie Reviews Plan for School Vouchers
As New Jersey Governor Chris Christie moves toward a decision on whether to run for president, he is touting his education success stories, including tenure reform and more charter schools. Yet one victory has eluded him – the Opportunity Scholarship, a voucher program for students in the worst-performing public schools. (Sullivan/Forbes)
Eying a White House bid, New Jersey’s Chris Christie faces economic challenges at home
NEWARK, N.J. — As he casts his eye toward a potential presidential bid, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie must also take on some work at home. First up: a statewide address expected to touch on nagging economic issues that could complicate his political plans.
Observers expect Christie to use his fifth State of the State address on Tuesday to define his tenure as governor on his own terms, while not missing the chance to articulate his rationale for a potential run for president. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
https://www.startribune.com/
Chris Christie crushed on Twitter over Cowboys rooting
By Jonathan Lehman
December 15, 2014 | 11:15am
Chris Christie knows all about outrageous three-lane traffic snarls, so the New Jersey governor should be well prepared for the backlash he’s facing for backing the Cowboys over the Giants or Eagles — the two favorite teams of his constituents and the Cowboys’ sworn rivals.
Christie, the pivotal figure in the Bridgegate scandal and a long-rumored Republican presidential candidate for 2016, opened himself up to venom with a nationally televised appearance Sunday night in Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ suite at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.
https://nypost.com/2014/12/15/chris-christie-crushed-on-twitter-over-cowboys-rooting/
Christie responds to backlash
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defended his longtime love for the Dallas Cowboys on Monday after his cheering for the team sparked a social media firestorm.
Christie was spotted high-fiving Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in a luxury box Sunday night at the Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles game.
The interactions prompted a wave of hate on Twitter from angry Eagles fans, who apparently were unaware the governor has long been a Cowboys fan despite his New Jersey roots.
Christie responded to the meltdown Monday morning with an unscheduled appearance on WPG Talk Radio 1450.
He told listeners he’s never made a secret of his Cowboys fandom and said he would never change his team loyalties to score political points.
“I love passionate sports fans. I really do. I’m a passionate sports fan. And so I can’t say that I was the least bit surprised by the reaction of some Eagles fans,” he said
Christie’s Ebola Nurse Antagonist goes bike riding as DOD contradicts her!
Oct. 30 2014
By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
This lady is a real trip, Save Jerseyans!
I’ve spoken to the nurses in my life since Kaci “the Brat” Hickox‘s story went viral; not one of them thinks it’s unreasonable, after an extended journey to Africa interacting one-on-one with Ebola patients, for a health care worker to spend 3-weeks in a hospital (or at home) to guarantee that this deadly virus doesn’t spread.
It’s not hard for anyone who isn’t a narcissist to understand why.
After all, the CDC was EGREGIOUSLY wrong – time and time again – when it came to this disease (1) coming to America and (2) the risk to health care workers caring for the infected. Ebola isn’t 100% understood and the “experts” continue to contradict themselves; researchers disagree, for example, on a few key points including the all-important incubation period.
But then again, most of nurses in my life aren’t nasty liberals who care more about making political points than protecting the American people. Check out what she did today:
https://savejersey.com/2014/10/christie-ebola-nurse-bike-ride-troops-quarantine/
Christie stands by mandatory quarantine for health care workers treating Ebola
OCTOBER 26, 2014, 8:50 AM LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2014, 4:48 PM
BY MELISSA HAYES AND CHRISTOPHER MAAG
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD
RUSS DESANTIS/SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
Christie speaking in Toms River Thursday.
“We’ve taken this action and I have absolutely no second thoughts about it,” Christie said on “Fox News Sunday” in response to a question about concerns raised by Kaci Hickox, the nurse who was quarantined upon landing at Newark Liberty Airport on Friday, having returned from treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone.
Hickox, who lives in Maine and worked for Doctors Without Borders, complained that the new state protocols were disorganized, and said she had no symptoms and should not be held and treated like a criminal in a first-person account published in the Dallas Morning News on Saturday.
