Republican State Committee paid $1,232.29 for part of Tuesday trip, while Christie will pay another $2,151.50 for Tuesday and Friday flights; See everywhere Christie has taken helicopters Watch video
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie and the state Republican Party will repay the state for two trips on a State Police helicopter to get to his son's baseball games.
The most recent ride, on Tuesday, drew national widespread criticism from those who questioned the governor's use of helicopter when he flew from downtown Trenton to Montvale, in Bergen County, to watch his son Andrew play baseball, and then to Princeton, where he met with a group of wealthy Republican donors from Iowa who traveled to New Jersey to try to persuade Christie to run for president in 2012.
The Republican State Committee has paid $1,232.29 for the flight from the Tuesday baseball game to Princeton, the Republican State Committee said today.
"The check has already been delivered," said party spokesman Rick Gorka.
Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for the governor, said Christie is reimbursing the state $1,232.30 for the flight to the game.
In addition, Christie is also paying $919.20 for a flight on Friday to see his son play in another baseball game. That flight was not previously disclosed.
"Though the superintendent of the State Police noted yesterday the travel does not cost taxpayers additional dollars, the governor understands the sensitivity about this kind of thing and believes he owes it to the public to ensure that this is not a distraction," Drewniak said in a statement.
He arrived by helicopter at that game, held in Morris Township, at about 4:30 p.m., according to sources there who requested anonymity because of the tight-knit nature of the school community.
Christie's office said Wednesday that he wouldn't repay the state for the cost of the $2,500-an-hour Tuesday flight. State Police said the flights did not cost the state anything extra because they were part of required training for pilots.
Democrats have sharply criticized the governor, saying he was misusing the helicopter for personal and political purposes.
Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) appeared on a left-leaning MSNBC talk show Wednesday night to say the trip showed "a certain arrogance."
"I'd like to see the governor, for once, stand up and say, 'You know what, I made a mistake,'" she said on The Ed Show. "And I'm assuming that he will reimburse the state of New Jersey."
"The governor does not reimburse for security and travel," a spokesman for the governor, Kevin Roberts, said in an e-mail. "The use of air travel has been extremely limited and appropriate."
Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex), chairman of the state party, said Christie "crossed the line" by taking the helicopter. And Assemblywoman Joan Quigley (D-Bergen) said his trip was "an outright abuse of taxpayer dollars."
"I'm sure every resident of this state would love to have access to these helicopters when they’re stuck in traffic on the Turnpike or Parkway and missing an important appointment," she said. "Sadly, we don’t all have that luxury."
Assemblyman Alex DeCroce (R-Morris), the Republican leader in the Assembly, said Democrats were simply trying to score political reports.
"I think the public wants to see tax reform, health reform and pension reform," he said. "As much as they may want to make a big deal over the helicopter thing, that's not what they want to see."
Christie's office also released new and revised details on his helicopter flights today. He has logged 33 trips since his inauguration last year, fewer than previous governors. That includes flights to town hall meetings, a tour of flooded areas in Passaic County and a charity event at the Wall Street firm Cantor Fitzgerald, where his wife works.
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno took one flight on her own, and the governor's staff used a helicopter another day.
"It is a means of transportation that is occasionally used as the schedule demands. This has historically been the case in prior administrations as well, and we continue to be judicious in limiting its use," said Christie’s spokesman Michael Drewniak in an email on Tuesday.
Staff writers Megan DeMarco and Chris Megerian contributed to this report.
Previous coverage:
• Gov. Christie helicopter ride has Assemblywoman calling for hearing
• Christie refuses to reimburse N.J. for traveling by helicopter to see son's baseball game
• Gov. Christie's helicopter rides raise ire of Democratic lawmaker
• Gov. Christie arrives at son's high school baseball game in State Police helicopter
• Poll: Was it inappropriate for Gov. Christie to take a helicopter to his son's baseball game?
• Your comments: Gov. Christie takes state helicopter to son's H.S. baseball game