Christie To Warren Buffett: "Just Write A Check And Shut Up"

Christie To Warren Buffett: "Just Write A Check And Shut Up"

"He should just write a check and shut up. Really. And just contribute. I'm tired of hearing about it. If he wants to give the government more money, he's got the ability to write a check. Go ahead and write it," Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) said to CNN's Piers Morgan.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/02/21/christie_on_buffett_he_should_just_write_a_check_and_shut_up.html

Christie endorses pal Kyrillos for US Senate

Christie endorses pal Kyrillos for US Senate

Gov. Chris Christie has wasted no time endorsing longtime friend Joe Kyrillos (KIR’-ill-ohs) for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey.

Christie made it official while campaigning with the GOP state senator in Union County this week. The governor says New Jersey “would be extraordinarily well-served” if residents were represented by Kyrillos in Washington.

The 51-year-old is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge Democratic incumbent Bob Menendez in November. Menendez is better known and better financed, having amassed nearly $7 million for the race.  (Delli Santi, Assocaited Press)

http://www.app.com/article/20120218/NJNEWS10/302180031/Christie-endorses-pal-Kyrillos-US-Senate

Christie, Sweeney look to rekindle ‘bromance’ as important N.J. business lies ahead

Christie, Sweeney look to rekindle ‘bromance’ as important N.J. business lies ahead

Will the "bromance" come back to Trenton?

Seven months after an angry Senate President Stephen Sweeney used some choice words to describe Gov. Chris Christie when he slashed programs for the poor from the state budget, Trenton’s top two political leaders appear to be in harmony again — at least on some issues.

Sweeney (D-Gloucester) endorsed the Republican governor’s plan to remake higher education, saying Christie showed "true leadership." He even defended it last week before a hostile crowd of more than 600 at Rutgers’ Camden campus, where students protested plans to have it taken over by Rowan University.  (Portnoy, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/chris_christie_stephen_sweeney.html

As a Vietnam Veteran, Post Commander of VFW Post 192 for Ridgewood and Ho-Ho-Kus, and father of a current Major in the U.S. Army, I am personally disappointed about this decision by the Governor.

As a Vietnam Veteran, Post Commander of VFW Post 192 for Ridgewood and Ho-Ho-Kus, and father of a current Major in the U.S. Army, I am personally disappointed about this decision by the Governor.
Stanley A. Kober

As a Vietnam Veteran, Post Commander of VFW Post 192 for Ridgewood and Ho-Ho-Kus, and father of a current Major in the U.S. Army, I am personally disappointed about this decision by the Governor. This honor has been for decades reserved to those who have sacrificed their lives in the military service of our Country and its freedoms AND only permitted to be done by Executive Order of the President of the United States. After 9/11 a change was made to allow each Governor to make that decision at the State level and includes others such as police and firefighters killed in the lilne of duty. But with so many things these days, this permission has been abused to now set precedent for entertainers. While she sang a wonderful "Star Spangled Banner", that does not come anywhere near the death of a military service member, police officer, or firefighter killed in the line of duty. This should not have been done in this case.

At Caldwell town hall meeting, Christie calls on N.J. towns to share services

At Caldwell town hall meeting, Christie calls on N.J. towns to share services

Gov. Chris Christie today told a hospitable audience at the Caldwell Community Center that after school funding, the duplication of municipal services is most responsible for high property tax bills.

Christie said he understands each town values its unique character, but pointed to Princeton Township and Princeton Borough’s recent decision to consolidate. The state will pick up the transition costs for the first year to encourage more towns to merge. “If you wonder why your property taxes are so high,” he said, “the next culprit after school funding is this proliferation of repetition, everybody having a CFO, everybody having a business administrator.”  (Portnoy, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/02/in_caldwell_christie_calls_on.html

Christie tees off on NJEA exec: ‘He should resign today’

Christie tees off on NJEA exec: ‘He should resign today’

Gov. Chris Christie today jumped on a comment made by N.J. Education Association Executive Director Vince Giordano in response to the plight of low-income residents who cannot afford options outside the public school system, calling on Giordano to resign immediately.

“He should resign today,” Christie said. “Life should get a lot more unfair for Vince Giordano today, and he should resign." Christie was steaming today following his town hall about the remarks, “that level of arrogance, that level of puffed-up rich man baloney.”   (Carroll, PolitickerNJ)

http://www.politickernj.com/54655/christie-tees-giordano-he-should-resign-today

Christie in Denville: plans for leading New Jersey to economic prosperity

Christie in Denville: plans for leading New Jersey to economic prosperity

From an auditorium packed with roughly 600 people at the Morris County School of Technology, Gov. Chris Christie discussed Thursday his plans for leading New Jersey to economic prosperity.

The governor knocked his Democratic predecessors for a “decade of stagnation.”

“We lost 117,000 jobs in 2010 alone. Seventy billion dollars in wealth left New Jersey between 2004 and 2010,” he said. “We had the largest budget deficit by percentage in the country. Taxes were raised 115 times by Gov. McGreevey, Gov. Codey and Gov. Corzine.”  (Townsend, Gannett)

http://www.app.com/article/C0/20120202/NJNEWS/302020023/Christie-Denville-Tax-cuts-help-all

Christie wants focus on jobs, not social issues

Christie wants focus on jobs, not social

Thatwas the message that Gov. Chris Christie delivered to New Jersey business leaders visiting Washington, D.C., on Thursday as he ripped Democrats in the Legislature for their push to legalize gay marriage last week while the state’s unemployment remains high.

“What do you think the people of New Jersey care about most? Do you think they care about the things we’ve been talking about the most this last week?” Christie said. “They want to play around with social issues so they can make people look bad politically. How about saving that until we can get everybody back to work in New Jersey?”  (DeFalco, Associated Press)

http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20120127/NEWS02/301270040/Christie-wants-focus-jobs-not-social-issues?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|State

N.J. tax battle revs up

N.J. tax battle revs up

Following Gov. Chris Christie's proposal to slash income taxes, the fight shaping up here won't be about whether to cut taxes, but how.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney told The Wall Street Journal that Democrats are drawing up a competing plan to cut property taxes, as they seek to reposition themselves against the Republican governor's headline-grabbing proposal to slash levies on income.  (Haddon, The Wall Street Journal)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203806504577183340099961980.html?KEYWORDS=jersey

State Education Commissioner Chris Cerf says teachers are ‘owed a debt of gratitude’ for the achievement

State Education Commissioner Chris Cerf says teachers are ‘owed a debt of gratitude’ for the achievement

New Jersey schools continue to improve their overall national ranking on the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress, the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subject areas.

Between 2009 and 2011, New Jersey maintained its ranking as the 2nd highest performing state in the country in grade 4 and 8 reading, and improved from 5th to 4th in grade 4 math, and from 5th to 3rd in grade 8 math, the state Department of education announced Tuesday.

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/nj-schools-ranked-among-best-in-the-united-states

Christie’s two nominations to state Supreme Court include first Asian-American and first openly gay man

Christie’s two nominations to state Supreme Court include first Asian-American and first openly gay man

Kwon would be the first Asian-American to serve on the state’s highest court and Harris is African-American and openly gay.

Harris would replace former Justice John Wallace, who is African-American, and Kwon would replace Justice Virginia Long, who faces mandatory retirement next month.

Christie said his nominations will bring an historic level of diversity to the court.

“I am extraordinarily proud to announce these two historic nominations to the New Jersey State Supreme Court,” the governor said at the Statehouse. “Bruce and Phil are each accomplished and talented individuals with skilled legal minds who are highly respected in the legal community. Just as importantly, each of them has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to serving their state and communities.”  (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/gov-christie-appoints-first-openly-gay-african-american-to-nj-supreme-court

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wants all tax brackets cut by 10 percent

New Jersey  Governor Chris Christie wants all tax brackets cut by 10 percent

(Reuters) - All New Jersey income tax brackets should be cut 10 percent, Governor Chris Christie proposed on Tuesday, saying the state was on the comeback trail due to harsh budget measures taken last year.

The governor, a Republican, in his annual State of the State address also recommended a series of changes in education, including some on teacher tenure and layoff criteria that likely will be opposed by unions.

He also condemned a ruling by the New Jersey's top court on school funding and called for changes in the criminal justice system, including a ban on bail for violent offenders and mandatory drug treatment programs for non-violent drug users instead of jail.

He called on the top state court to "admit" that its decision requiring poor, often urban schools to get increased funding was "a failure" because pupil performance at those schools has not improved.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/17/us-christie-idUSTRE80G23620120117

No rubber-stamp governor: N.J.’s Christie often invokes his veto power

No rubber-stamp governor: N.J.’s Christie often invokes his veto power

For the past two decades, a governor’s signature has been all but guaranteed once a bill was approved by both chambers of the Legislature.

Every governor who has served a full four-year term — from Jim Florio to Jon Corzine — approved 94 percent to 99 percent of the bills that landed on his or her desk.

Then came Gov. Chris Christie. 

With only a week remaining in the 214th session of the New Jersey Legislature, the state’s current chief executive has signed 74 percent of the bills sent to him by the Democratic-controlled Assembly and Senate.  (DeMarco, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/01/no_rubber-stamp_governor_njs_c.html

Christie rips Obama over deficit talks: 'What the hell are we paying you for?'

Christie rips Obama over deficit talks: 'What the hell are we paying you for?'
By Justin Sink - 11/29/11 08:27 AM ET

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ripped President Obama for the failure of the debt supercommittee, calling the president "a bystander in the Oval Office" in comments Monday.

“I was angry this weekend, listening to the spin coming out of the administration, about the failure of the supercommittee, and that the president knew it was doomed for failure, so he didn’t get involved. Well, then what the hell are we paying you for?” Christie said in Camden, N.J. " 'It’s doomed for failure, so I’m not getting involved'? Well, what have you been doing, exactly?”

http://thehill.com/video/in-the-news/195823-christie-rips-obama-for-supercommittee-failure-what-the-hell-are-we-paying-you-for

Christie aims to repair NJ’s reputation

Christie aims to repair NJ’s reputation

Governor Christie told a group of municipal leaders gathered in Atlantic City on Thursday that his goal for the next two years is to continue repairing New Jersey's reputation.

"In popular culture New Jersey became a punch line, rather than a source of pride," Christie said of the state he took leadership of in January 2010.

But through fiscal discipline, a focus on economic growth and several policy changes aimed at curbing New Jersey's perennially high property taxes, Christie said he's been able to work with Democrats in the Legislature to make positive changes.

The state's outlook is now turning around, the Republican governor said during a luncheon at the New Jersey League of Municipalities' annual convention.

"We have climbed out of the hole," Christie said. "It is time to raise the New Jersey flag high on the flagpole again."  (Reitmeyer, The Record)

http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/134103383_Christie_.html

Christie: Taxpayers wait too long for reform

Christie: Taxpayers wait too long for reform

Gov. Chris Christie will tell municipal officials Thursday that New Jersey taxpayers are feeling ill over the Legislature's inaction on sick leave payouts and civil service rules.

Christie plans to take the Democratic-controlled Legislature to task during a keynote address in Atlantic City for not reconsidering two bills he conditionally vetoed. The Associated Press obtained excerpts of the governor's remarks before the speech, which will be given to hundreds of local officials at the annual League of Municipalities convention.

"There's no more time for delays and no more excuses for inaction , I know you are all tired of waiting," Christie will say in his prepared remarks.

One bill disallows public workers to cash out large amounts of accumulated sick days at retirement. The other updates civil service rules.  (Delli Santi, Associated Press)

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20111117_ap_apchristietaxpayerswaittoolongforreform.html?c=r

New Jersey lures pharmaceutical facility

New Jersey lures pharmaceutical facility

The pharmaceutical company behind Botox will give a shot in the arm to the New Jersey economy by building a new $12 million research facility in the state, Gov. Chris Christie announced Monday.

The move by California-based Allergan Inc. counters years in which the state has shed well-paying pharmaceutical jobs — a trend Christie has been personally involved in trying to stop. The governor lobbied the firm in person while in California last September to deliver a highly-touted speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

New Jersey officials are poised to offer the company a 10-year, $17 million state grant to build the facility, which is expected to create about 400 jobs. State officials cited the grant as a key bargaining chip in beating out other area states looking to woo the firm.  (Haddon, The Wall Street Journal)

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011/11/07/new-jersey-lures-pharmaceutical-facility/?KEYWORDS=jersey

Gov. Christie announces plan to privatize amenities at N.J.’s 39 state parks

Gov. Christie announces plan to privatize amenities at N.J.’s 39 state parks

Amenities offered at New Jersey’s 39 state parks such as boating or snack stands would be privatized and expanded under a plan to raise more money to operate the parks, Gov. Chris Christie announced Wednesday.

The governor said the parks and state-run historic sites cost the state about $39 million annually but such things as entrance, parking, camping and marina fees raise only about $8 million. He said in order to keep the parks and historic sites from closing, provide additional staff and provide maintenance more money is needed.  (Hester, New Jersey Newsroom)

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/gov-christie-announces-plan-to-privatize-amenities-at-njs-39-state-parks

Gov. Christie, family tough it out during night spent without power in Mendham

Gov. Christie, family tough it out during night spent without power in Mendham

Candles, board games and frozen pizza cooked outside on a gas grill. That’s how Gov. Chris Christie and his family coped when the power went out at their Mendham home during the weekend snowstorm.

The Christies’ home was one of more than 700,000 without power in New Jersey on Saturday night, and the governor said they toughed it out as the needle dropped to 47 degrees in their house.

"We stayed home. We built a fire," he said at a Statehouse press conference today. "There was a lot of reading going on. There was some board game playing. There was some card playing that went on."  (Megerian, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/gov_christie_family_tough_it_o.html

N.J. was ready for October snowstorm, Gov. Chris Christie says

N.J. was ready for October snowstorm, Gov. Chris Christie says

It happened so fast, the governor didn’t have time to warn everybody to get the hell off the highway.

Transportation and utility crews scrambled to make roads passable and homes livable Sunday in the aftermath of a pre-Halloween nor’easter that dumped too much wet snow too soon and snapped branches like matchsticks.

Gov. Chris Christie, who famously told sun worshipers to "get the hell off the beach" as Hurricane Irene chugged toward New Jersey two months earlier, was himself without power at his Morris County home.  (Frasinelli and Megerian, The Star-Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/nj_was_ready_for_october_snows.html