Chris Christie on Families & Children

Less government control over parenting choices

Christie: No, because Republicans believe in less government, not more. I trust parents.

Q: When you were governor in 2017, you signed a law that required new guidelines for schools dealing with transgender students: to accept a child's preferred gender identity even if the minor's parents objected. It said that there is no duty for schools to notify parents if their son or daughter changes their gender identity. How is any of that pro-parental rights?

Christie: That's simply not true. That law was put into effect in 2018 after I was out of office. I stood up every single time for parents to be able to make the decisions for their minor children. And you know what? Every once in a while parents are going to make decisions that we disagree with, but the minute you start to take those rights away from parents, you don't know that slippery slope, what rights are going to be taken away next.

Pro-life is not just in the womb, it's for the whole life

Government shouldn't interfere with parents on gender care

CHRISTIE: What I believe we should be focused on in these issues is making sure there is parental involvement at every step along the way. I don't think that the government should ever be stepping into the place of the parents in helping to move their children through a process where those children are confused or concerned about their gender. And I just would say that parents are the people who are best positioned to make these judgments. And so what I'd like to make sure each state does is require that parents be involved in these decisions. We were talking about students; people under the age of 18. And the fact is that folks who are under the age of 18 should have parental support and guidance and love as they make all of the key decisions of their life.

$9.7 more for Early Childhood Intervention Program

• Funding for the Early Childhood Intervention Program increased $9.7 million over FY2011, for a total budget of $92.6 million. The program support children from birth to age three with developmental delays and disabilities. Services include developmental intervention, and physical & occupational therapy. 21,292 children received services in FY2010.
• State and federal funding for Special Child Health Services was protected at $3.3 million. Counties provide case management services to 12,000 medically fragile children birth through age 21 in need assistance to access comprehensive health services. Eligible children without insurance get assistance including hearin aids & orthotics.

  $500,000 was preserved for the Autism Registry, which makes it easier for families to be connected to the appropriate diagnostic, treatment and support services in their communities. More than 6,000 children have been registered