Business leaders, lawmakers were optimistic during the annual 'Walk to Washington' train ride
WASHINGTON — It would take more than another dumping of snow to stop New Jersey’s lawmakers and lobbyists from wheeling and dealing, drinks in hand, on the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s annual train trek to Washington.
About 700 people today rode from Newark to the nation’s capital aboard the chartered Amtrak, dubbed the "Walk to Washington" because participants walk from car to car glad-handing with politicians, lobbyists and business owners.
Despite the snow and the still-poor economy, the mood on the train was more optimistic than it has been in years past.
"You cannot discount the effect a pro-growth governor has on the state," said Jeffrey Scheininger, first vice chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. New Jersey may have only inched up from 50th to 48th in the Tax Foundation’s business climate rating, but it’s a start, he said.
Gov. Chris Christie, who skipped the event last year when he was feuding with the chamber, didn’t ride the rails but was in Washington to deliver the keynote address at the annual dinner.
Christie highlighted his three biggest issues in his State of the State address: fiscal discipline, public employee benefit reform and education reform.
He gave his assessment of Washington following President Obama’s State of the Union address: "It is comforting to know that politicans on both sides of the aisles now understand that the big things need to be tackled. The big things in our state and our country can no longer be ignored, can no longer be sugar coated and can no logner be put off to be solved."
And with more snow covering his state, Christie joked about the furor he caused by leaving the state for Disney World in the post Christmas snowstorm. When he saw today’s storm, he said: "My first instinct was to head to Florida immediately."
On the train, State Sen. Steven Oroho (R-Sussex) said businesses are responding to Christie’s leadership, noting even minor changes in tax law have made a big difference in how companies view New Jersey.
Not everyone was feeling the love: Labor lawyer David Fox said some law enforcement unions, who have chafed at the governor’s plans to curb pension benefits, were not on the train.
Democrats are pushing a package of bills intended to create jobs in the state, saying Christie’s policies have not done enough to put people back to work.
"If the governor is committed to cutting taxes on business, he could give small businesses a meaningful tax cut before he even leaves this afternoon for Washington D.C.," Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said today.
Eleven cars held 700 people this year, compared to nine cars holding 500 last year, said chamber spokesman Scott Goldstein.
Throughout the four-hour ride, New Jersey’s movers and shakers cozied up to one another. In one car, a company set up a mini picnic complete with cheese, crackers, vodka and champagne.
In car six, construction-industry friends of Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer) pranked him by writing "Who the hell is Assemblyman DeAngelo?" on a sign reserving his seat. He set up shop next to the sign. "You can’t let it bother you," he joked.
By Ginger Gibson and Chris Megerian/Statehouse Bureau
Previous coverage:
• Despite snow, N.J. 'Walk to Washington' train heads toward D.C. - Live blog
• Today in Trenton: 'Walk to Washington' day arrives
• Poll: Is 'Walk to Washington' politics gone wild?
• N.J. Gov. Chris Christie will be featured speaker at Chamber of Commerce 'Walk to Washington'
• Editorial: Boycotting N.J. Chamber of Commerce's "Walk to Washington":Gov. Chris Christie plays the party pooper
• Christie sits out annual Chamber of Commerce train ride, snubs influential lobbying groups
• GOP hopefuls rail against Chamber of Commerce railroad trip