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Chris Christie on Government Reform
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Allow just one public salary for state legislators
New Jersey's Legislature is crammed with people collecting more than one public paycheck. About one in three state lawmakers do this, according to a recent Star-Ledger analysis.But dual office-holding also has a dark side: conflicts of interest,
no-show jobs and political favors. Gov. Chris Christie has proposed a solution that sounds simple: Allow just one public salary. Legislators would still be free to take other government jobs, elective or otherwise, but could collect a salary for only one
of them. Christie's on the right track. Christie has proposed more detailed financial disclosure for all government officials, and there is simply no excuse for the Legislature to resist that. At a minimum, the public has a right to know about
potential conflicts. The governor also proposes a sensible requirement that legislators recuse themselves from a vote if they face any conflict of interest.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger Editorial
, Jun 5, 2011
More control over state commissions
This week Governor Christie unveiled [government ethics] reforms asking for sensible changes. He wants the power to veto agencies' board-meeting minutes within 15 days; the agencies to be governed by state ethics rules; the state comptroller to be able
to look at agencies' books; and commissioners to serve without pay or benefits. He also wants the power to fire board members for cause, The proposal may come off as Christie takes all, but should it pass it would apply to both Republican and
Democratic governors, with board members often serving over two gubernatorial administrations. The parties would be mixed and matched enough, we hope, to shake out any tendencies toward political favoritism.
Whether these commissions have done anything wrong in the past doesn't matter. The point is to stop any abuse and waste from happening from now on. We need the law.
Source: The Bergen Record, "Needed authority"
, Apr 1, 2011
Refused to reappoint activist judge to NJ Supreme Court
Newly elected Republican governor Chris Christie is turning heads in tax-strapped New Jersey by working through the closure of an $11 billion budget gap in 2010. As noted in the "Economist", he has "taken on a notoriously cranky legislature and has stare
down the powerful teachers' union. He has even refused to reappoint a judge to New Jersey's activist Supreme Court." This is how we get things done in states with a little courage and wherewithal.State and local governments are not perfect.
We all have lots of waste we can end, lots of bureaucratic red tape we need to streamline ourselves, and we have laws that could be improved to maximize freedom. But the value proposition offered by state and local governments as compared with the
federal government is, in fact, incomparable. Imagine how strong we could be if the federal government didn't interfere with us and if we didn't often have to do its job.
Source: Fed Up!, by Gov. Rick Perry, p.160
, Nov 15, 2010
Use the line item veto; put everything online
I believe we can and we must control spending and enforce accountability.- Use the line-item veto.
- Elect independent state auditor.
- Eliminate 2/3 political patronage jobs.
- Eliminate pensions and benefits for part-time workers.
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Immediate freeze on proposed new agency rules and regulations.
- Sunset provisions for all new programs after 4 years.
- Transparency--put everything online with searchable databases.
Source: Campaign website, www.christiefornj.com, "Issues"
, Nov 3, 2009
10-point plan to punish criminal officeholders
Unveiling a 10-point plan he said would punish criminal officeholders and cut down on conflicts of interest, Christie blamed Corzine's "failure of leadership" for allowing corruption to fester. He said the governor has put politics ahead of principles an
failed to implement strong ethics laws that Corzine himself campaigned on in 2005. "If the governor had the will to lead, some of the things on this list would be done," Christie said. "He always feels great despair after people are arrested, and he's
willing to stand up and fight--and then the minute the political bosses and his patrons in the Legislature push back, he falls back on his back."Corzine's campaign hit back with the latest in a series of television advertisements designed to undermine
Christie's own ethics. The ad highlights Christie's past as a fundraiser for former President George W. Bush, who appointed Christie as US Attorney. The ad labels that pay-to-play, a practice Christie and Corzine have pledged to crack down on.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger coverage: 2009 N.J. gubernatorial debates
, Aug 5, 2009
Cut wasteful spending; empower fiscal watchdogs
Gov. Corzine's spending is out of control. Taxpayer dollars are being wasted on ineffective programs while priority programs that have a positive impact on the quality of life of New Jersey families remain underfunded. Chris Christie will manage spending
and take control of New Jersey's priorities by budgeting for the future & cutting wasteful spending.Highlights from the plan for making sure every dollar counts:- Prioritize the state's funding commitments
- Establishing and empowering fiscal
watchdogs
- Implement simple, responsible budget practices..
It's time for a governor who will improve transparency, strengthen accountability and put the taxpayer first. It's the tone Chris Christie first set as US Attorney and it's how he will
serve as governor.Chris' plan to change the way government works:- Eliminate the Legislature's conflicts of interest
- Eliminate loopholes to strengthen laws banning pay to play
- Demand greater transparency and accountability in government.
Source: Campaign website, www.christiefornj.com, "Issues"
, Jul 21, 2009
Page last updated: Feb 23, 2012