Chris Christie in 2015 Governor's State of the State speeches

On Corporations: $2.3 billion small business tax relief package

In these past five years, we have delivered needed tax relief to small businesses. The $2.3 billion small business tax relief package that we continue to phase in is improving New Jersey's business climate and making our state more competitive. That approach is explicit in the sweeping, bipartisan changes we've made to New Jersey's economic incentive programs.

And we have better targeted them to areas of our state that need investment most. And the verdict is in--and the early returns from the economic opportunity act show that it is working to attract and retain businesses. In total, our pro-growth policies and streamlined economic development efforts have brought in over $12 billion dollars of new public and private investment in New Jersey in these last five years.

The fact is that, the deeper they look, the more businesses like what they see. Companies have chosen New Jersey as a home for expansion.

Source: State of the State address to 2015 New Jersey Legislature Jan 13, 2015

On Drugs: Drug addiction is a disease & it can be treated

In these past two years, you've joined me in applying this principle to those who face special challenges in life, including the disease of drug addiction. In this last year, we expanded the mandatory drug court program you helped me enact into four new counties, building on those in which courts were established immediately after the law's enactment in 2013.

I have a simple view of this. Drug addiction is a disease. It can happen to anyone, from any station in life. And it can be treated.

Most importantly, every life is an individual gift from god and no life is disposable. We have an obligation to help people reclaim their lives. And if we have the tools to help those with this disease to save their own lives, we should use them.

Requiring mandatory treatment instead of prison for non-violent drug offenders is only one step--but an important one. Treatment is the path to saving lives, and for as long as I am governor, treatment will be mandatory in our system and I will not yield

Source: State of the State address to 2015 New Jersey Legislature Jan 13, 2015

On Education: Tenure reform for failing teachers; merit pay for good ones

We have also done much in the past five years to reform our education system. For the first time in 100 years, we came together to reform tenure, so that failing teachers can be removed from the classroom.

For the first time, we brought the concept of performance-based pay to schools in our largest city, Newark--so that we can pay the best teachers more.

We have expanded charter schools. And together we have enacted urban hope legislation to create renaissance schools in our highest risk districts.

Source: State of the State address to 2015 New Jersey Legislature Jan 13, 2015

On Education: Choice of schools to meet child's needs

For four years in a row, we've provided a record amount in aid to our public schools--over $11.9 billion in the current fiscal year. But more school reform is needed. And a great first step would be to pass the opportunity scholarship act, to give parents a choice of a school that meets their child's needs.

Let's give families an alternative to chronically failing neighborhood schools. Let's keep driving for better outcomes. Let's give parents and students more choice.

Source: State of the State address to 2015 New Jersey Legislature Jan 13, 2015

On Health Care: Hold down Medicaid costs while providing focused choice

In 2010, we put in place a model to better connect populations most in need of assistance with the kind of care they actually need--whether seniors, people with disabilities, or adults with substance abuse or mental illness. We reformed the state's Medicaid program and created an innovative system that gives senior citizens & people with disabilities easier access to care and greater choice.

Our whole emphasis has been to deliver the right level of service to the right person, in the right place. As a result, we've increased and improved the options of assistance and care provided in a home setting and in the community, while reducing our reliance on more traditional institutional care, whether in nursing homes or developmental centers.

This approach has worked under Medicaid, improving services and holding down costs. NJ's Medicaid spending growth on these groups has trailed the national average, and has been cited as the second lowest in the region.

Source: State of the State address to 2015 New Jersey Legislature Jan 13, 2015

On Jobs: Focus on reducing unemployment but not government employment

Since last January, the total number of people employed in New Jersey has grown by over 90,000, and the number of unemployed has dropped by nearly 30,000.

We recorded our 5th consecutive year of private sector job growth, and the unemployment rate continues to steadily go down.
We have attracted and retained companies--from Subaru USA to the Philadelphia 76ers to Sandoz.
We have grown our economy and more people are working, supporting their families and knowing the power of going to work every day in New Jersey today than one year ago.
We have done this while holding the line on government spending and government employment.

Source: State of the State address to 2015 New Jersey Legislature Jan 13, 2015

On Social Security: State pensions cut by $120B; but $90B still to go

We defied the conventional wisdom and reduced the cost [of state pensions] to taxpayers by over $120 billion over the next three decades. Today, the health of the pension system is stronger than it was 5 years ago. In fact, gains have totaled over $35 billion--which is way above projections--thanks to our sound management and smart investment strategy.

But the pension fund's problem is a long-term one. Right now the $90 billion unfunded liability for pensions and health benefits is three times the size of the annual state budget. Think of this way--in order to close the current shortfall in just the pension system alone every family in New Jersey would have to write a check for $12,000.

That is the nature of long-term entitlements which grow faster than the economy, and in that regard our problem here in New Jersey is not that different from Washington's entitlement problem. Last summer I appointed a pension and health benefits task force--to think outside the box, and they are hard at work.

Source: State of the State address to 2015 New Jersey Legislature Jan 13, 2015

On Tax Reform: I will veto any income tax increases that come before me

Now, I know that many of you in this room believe that income tax increases are the way to go. So yes, sometimes we will simply have to disagree.

I have vetoed four income tax increases passed by this body. And make no mistake: I will veto any more income tax increases that come before me. And I will do it for one simple reason--the higher our taxes are, the fewer people and businesses will come to New Jersey and the more who will consider leaving.

Raising taxes is the old Trenton way, and it didn't work. Taxes were raised 115 times in the eight years before 2010. People and businesses in turn didn't support them and left our state. Between 2004 and 2008 the departure of wealth, investment, and income was staggering--some $70 billion left the state. We have begun a new direction and we need to go further, not reverse course.

Source: State of the State address to 2015 New Jersey Legislature Jan 13, 2015

The above quotations are from 2015 Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts from 2015 Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for other excerpts by Chris Christie. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018