TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie was back on the stump today, taking Democratic lawmakers to task, blasting the state Supreme Court, targeting public employee's benefits, and -- read his lips -- no new taxes. At a town hall event in Evesham Township, the governor said a full year had gone by since he first approached the Democratic-controlled Legislature with...
Gov. Chris Christie holds a town meeting at in this 2011 file photo.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie was back on the stump today, taking Democratic lawmakers to task, blasting the state Supreme Court, targeting public employee's benefits, and -- read his lips -- no new taxes.
At a town hall event in Evesham Township, the governor said a full year had gone by since he first approached the Democratic-controlled Legislature with his "toolkit," a package of bills meant to help local governments cut spending.
"Out of 20 bills they've passed five," he said, grading them with an F.
Christie urged legislators to act on a loophole that allows public safety workers to amass all their unused sick days and cash in with one big check upon retirement. Taxpayers were on the hook for $825 million otherwise, he said.
In response, Democrats pointed out that Christie vetoed a bill to reform sick-leave payouts, and that the governor cut property tax rebates in 2010.
“While we appreciate the governor emphasizing his failure to improve the lives of New Jerseyans suffering under his property tax hikes and job losses, we also wish he’d grow up and take some responsibility for his lack of leadership," said Tom Hester, a spokesman for Assembly Democrats. "It’s long past time for this governor to stop his childish tantrums and name-calling and do something productive such as working with others like an adult.”
Christie said Democrats were holding a hearing May 24 on his Supreme Court nominee, Morristown lawyer Anne Patterson, after more than a year of keeping her nomination in limbo.
He also disclosed that state treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff is reviewing the way New Jersey collects its income, corporate and sales taxes.
"Hopefully by the fall we'll have some announcements to make," Christie said.
As he has done before, the governor ruled out any tax increases -- not the millionaires tax, he said, and not a gas tax being proposed in the Assembly. Revenue from the gas tax would go into the state's Transportation Trust Fund, which has been severely underfunded for years. The governor borrowed $600 million just last week to keep the fund aloft.
Sen. Dawn Addiego (R-Burlington), whose hometown is Evesham, was in the audience and got several shoutouts from Christie during the event. Addiego may have to face Olympic track star Carl Lewis in the fall election.
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