Christie says he's glad to have help from 'citizens who ... advocate policies that are in line with mine,' compares nonprofit group to unions
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie makes his first budget address to a joint session of the New Jersey Legislature in this photo.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie said today he is not responsible for a group of supporters soliciting political donations outside state limits, even as he welcomed the "help" against labor unions that are spending furiously to defeat his agenda.
The governor also criticized the "unfairness" of New Jersey’s campaign finance system, a day after The Star-Ledger reported he is appearing as a "special guest" at events that circumvent those rules. The events — advertised with a $25,000 per person price tag — are hosted by Reform Jersey Now, an independent organization run by prominent Republicans and some of Christie’s top advisers.
"I’m not using anybody. These are a group of citizens who are out there who advocate policies that are in line with mine, and that’s great," Christie said at a press conference in Hamilton Township. "I’m glad to have some help out there because when you’re getting hit by an $8 million two-by-four by the CWA and the NJEA, it’s nice every once in awhile to know that some people out there actually agree with you."
Democrats said the comparison to public worker unions like the Communications Workers of America and the New Jersey Education Association is not valid since it is clear union money comes from their members. As a 501(c)(4) issue-advocacy organization, Reform Jersey Now is not required to disclose its donors, though its leaders say it will do so once a year.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said he will introduce legislation Wednesday that would force the group to be more transparent.
"I’m not arguing when the governor says, ‘I got beaten up by all these groups.’ But you knew who was beating him up," Sweeney said.
The group is also telling donors they don’t have to follow pay-to-play laws, which ban those with state contracts worth more than $17,500 from donating more than $300 to statewide campaigns. Christie said yesterday those limits favor Democrats because they exempt labor unions and invited changes to the law.
"I’m somebody who’s gotten the brunt of every part of the unfairness of the system," the Republican governor said. "So you think I’m not motivated to get good campaign finance refom? I’d love to."
But even Republicans yesterday questioned the political sense of Christie’s ties to the group given his long-standing criticism of fundraising practices of others.
"In the environment we’re in — and it’s an environment the governor has contributed mightily to — these things are looked at with considerable suspicion," said Carl Golden, a GOP strategist who has advised former governors. "It just doesn’t look right. In this business, appearance accounts for a great deal."
By Claire Heininger and Josh Margolin/Statehouse Bureau