Christie went month by month, naming packages of legislation, namely changes to ethics, pension and health benefits, and teacher tenure, that the legislature hasn't acted on
Gov. Chris Christie mocked the Legislature at a town hall meeting in Jackson today, saying they haven't passed much of his reform package.JACKSON — Gov. Chris Christie turned up the heat on lawmakers at a town hall meeting in Jackson this morning, saying the "do-nothing legislature" has failed to act on several reform packages he's proposed.
At a standing-room only meeting, Christie went month by month, naming packages of legislation, namely changes to ethics, pension and health benefits, and teacher tenure, that the legislature hasn't acted on.
He also counted how many voting sessions the Assembly and Senate had each month, usually one or two a month since September, and joked about the bodies' lax work ethic.
"Who's working and who isn't?" Christie said. "They promised you they would do this, but what have they been doing? At some point people have to be held responsible."
He also ridiculed bills that the legislature has passed.
"I'm only one person in control of one branch of government," Christie said.
He fielded mostly mild questions from an enthusiastic audience at a carpeted room located in a country club, talking about the millionaires tax and teacher tenure.
When asked why conservatives should support the governor, Christie pointed to his policies, including cutting spending, cutting taxes and "standing up for the sanctity of human life."
"If conservatives need an explanation if why they should support this governor, then I don't know what to tell you," Christie said.
State Democratic Chairman John Wisniewski called Christie's comments ironic because he is the "do-nothing executive."
“Christie is more interested in chest-pounding and sabre-rattling than he is in enacting progressive legislation designed to put New Jersey back to work," Wisniewski said in a statement. "Instead of signing bills to provide healthcare for women, property tax relief for seniors and jobs for New Jersey families, the Governor chose to veto them and is simply making his latest You Tube moment at another highly-produced, taxpayer funded town hall.”