Chris Christie in 2016 Governor's State of the State speeches
On Crime:
De-criminalizing drug use has reduced prisoner population
Four years ago I also stood in this chamber and called for us to fundamentally change the way we treat nonviolent criminals who are in the thralls of the disease of addiction. Through the reforms we delivered, like mandatory drug court,
we have a smaller prison population today and we are closing a traditional state prison--Mid-State Prison--which I propose today that we open as a fully dedicated, certified drug abuse treatment facility for New Jersey prison inmates.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2016
On Drugs:
Addiction is an illness and should be treated as such
Instead of prosecuting a failed war on drugs--a war on our own citizens--we've classified drug addiction as the illness it truly is, and worked to treat and rehabilitate some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
Last year alone I signed ten new laws to address this issue, and today we're going to talk about the next steps we need to take to continue making progress.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2016
On Drugs:
Search for innovative ways to address drug epidemic
Since 2012 we've enacted more than a dozen laws to address the drug epidemic. In 2013 we brought in the drug court program to provide mandatory treatment to first-time, non-violent, non-dealing drug offenders. In 2014 we launched a statewide program
to help reduce the number of heroin-related. Last July, we instituted a single point of entry for people to gain access to treatment. This year, I plan to ask to fund the Recovery Coach Program for an additional six counties in New Jersey.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2016
On Education:
Program for at-risk youths to get them into college
In partnership with our community colleges, we launched the College Readiness Now Program to help at-risk students graduate from high school and to get prepared to attend college. 19 community colleges partnered with more than
60 high schools across the state, serving 900 high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds. 97% of the students completing the program in Atlantic and Cape May Counties enrolled in Atlantic Cape Community College as freshmen.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2016
On Education:
Further de-regulate charter schools
Charter schools have succeeded in spite of our regulatory environment--not because of it. Instead of giving charter schools the autonomy they need to deliver great education outcomes, we're regulating them using the same regulations
that apply to traditional public schools. It's not good for innovation or for attracting more innovative charter school operators to our state. Today, I'm announcing that my administration will aggressively prioritize regulatory relief for these schools.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2016
On Social Security:
Do not prioritize pensions over other critical spending
The State Assembly has begun the pursuit of a constitutional amendment to guarantee pension payments over all other types of state spending. Because spending on education, health, crime, environment, welfare etc. is not guaranteed by the Constitution and
is subject to elimination to pay for the pensions of 800,000 current and former public employees. The health, welfare, security and success of the other 8.1 million New Jerseyans become second-class concerns; pensions reign supreme.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2016
On Tax Reform:
Abolish the estate tax to incentivize people to stay in NJ
Right now, New Jersey imposes an estate and inheritance tax. 14 states currently have estate taxes, and 6 have inheritance taxes. But only New Jersey and Maryland have both and we also have the lowest exemption threshold in the country.
I aim to abolish the Estate Tax because it penalizes the next generation and harms the long-term economic future. Our tax structure incentivizes people to move to other states as they age--and when they do, to take their businesses and capital with them.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2016
Page last updated: Dec 09, 2018