Chris Christie in The Newark Star Ledger
On Civil Rights:
Supreme Court accepting gay marriage was "a bad decision"
Hours after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling today striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, Gov. Chris Christie maintained his opposition to same-sex marriage and lambasted the high court. "It's just another example of judicial supremacy
rather than having the government run by the people we actually vote for," he said of the high court's 5-4 vote. "I thought it was a bad decision." Christie noted that DOMA originated with a Republican Congress & Democratic president. "I thought that
Justice (Anthony) Kennedy's opinion in many respects was incredibly insulting to those people, 340-some members of Congress who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act, and Bill Clinton," he said. "They basically said the only reason to pass that bill
was to demean people."
Christie calls for voters to decide the issue in each state [which pleases liberals]. His opposition to gay marriage could maintain his conservative bone fides while pacifying GOP voters in early primary states.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2013 N.J. Governor's debate
Jun 27, 2013
On Civil Rights:
If my kids were gay, I'd give them a hug; but no marriage
Christie and Buono clashed on marriage equality. Asked how he would react if any of his children told him they were gay, Christie maintained his opposition to legalizing same-sex marriage.
"If my children came to me and said they were gay I would grab them and hug them and tell them I love them," Christie said. "I would also tell them that your dad believes that marriage is between one man and one woman."
Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2013 N.J. Governor debates
Oct 16, 2013
On Education:
Build up colleges to support business, & avoid "brain drain"
Chris Christie spoke directly to students today, telling a small group at Raritan Valley Community College that New Jersey was not doing enough to fund their educations. "Over the last eight years, this state has done an awful job supporting higher
education in New Jersey," Christie said, adding that state aid to colleges and universities is down 2% in that time period. The result of that is what the former U.S. Attorney calls the "brain drain"--referring to trends that show fewer high school
graduates stay in New Jersey for college, and those who do end up leaving after earning a diploma.
Lagging colleges also lead business leaders to see the state differently. Companies seek to have long-term, "intellectual relationships"
with educational institutions but might not be able to if schools aren't built up enough to attract students, he said. Businesses need access to practical and research support from colleges, as well as a trained workforce, he said.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger coverage: 2009 N.J. gubernatorial debates
Jul 29, 2009
On Free Trade:
Jersey to Jerusalem Trade Mission: led delegation to Israel
Governor Chris Christie's "Jersey Comeback Tour" moves overseas next week, as the Governor and his family travel to Israel and Jordan for a trip being billed as a trade mission. Christie's Middle East trip will start in Israel on Sunday with a stay
until Thursday. That leg of the trip is being called the "Jersey to Jerusalem Trade Mission: Economic Growth, Diplomacy, Observance." From there, the Governor and his family visit the country of Jordan from Thursday until Easter Sunday.
In addition to family members, the Governor is being accompanied by staff and a delegation of representatives from New Jersey's business and Jewish communities.
The goal, according to a release from the Governor's Office, is to strengthen the state's economic and diplomatic relationships with other nations.
Source: Matthew White in Newark Star-Ledger reported on NJ 101.5
Mar 29, 2012
On Government Reform:
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
On Government Reform:
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
On Government Reform:
Vetoes expanded early-voting system; no side-by-side systems
Christie vetoed a bill that would allow early voting at polling places, calling a proposal to let voters cast ballots at designated polling places during a 15-day period before Election Day "hasty, counterproductive and less reliable" than the current
system. "I support responsible and cost-efficient election reform that increases voter participation because democracy works best when the most people vote," Christie said in the veto message. "But this bill risks the integrity and orderly administration
of our elections by introducing a new voting method and process."Christie said the expanded early voting system envisioned by the Legislature would create a side-by-side voting process, noting it would cost the state $23 million in the
first year and $2 million each year after that. He also questioned the security of transporting paper ballots around the state during the early voting period and the call for a quick setup before July 1.
Source: Newark Star Ledger on 2013 N.J. governor debates
May 9, 2013
On Gun Control:
Vetoed outright ban on Barrett .50 caliber rifle
On gun control, Christie explained why he vetoed an outright ban on the powerful Barrett .50 caliber rifle, even though he initially proposed a ban on future purchases.
He blamed Democrats for going back on their word during negotiations with him. "If they break a deal with me, then there's going to be ramifications,"
Christie said. "They didn't keep their word on this."Buono said she believes Christie changed his mind after he received a letter from gun rights advocates in
New Hampshire, the site of the nation's first presidential primary.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2013 N.J. Governor debates
Oct 16, 2013
On Immigration:
I've never been opposed to tuition equality for illegals
Christie threaded the needle on the Dream Act, a law that would permit students who entered the country illegally to pay in-state tuition rates. Two years ago he said the state couldn't afford to extend tuition equality
to "people who haven't followed the rules." A few days ago in front of a largely Hispanic crowd, he said it's time to reconsider the measure. "I've never been opposed to tuition equality," Christie said.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2013 N.J. Governor debates
Oct 16, 2013
On Jobs:
Ok with either unionized state workers or civil service
Lonegan asked Christie, "You don't understand what it is to create a job. I ran a business for 25 years. I employed 50, 60, 70 people. I know what it is to create jobs." Christie responded, "And, you know what it is to hire illegal immigrants."
Lonegan said the state would be better off without a unionized workforce.
Christie said he wanted either unionized state workers or employees working under a civil service system, but not both, which sometimes have differing rules.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger coverage: 2009 N.J. gubernatorial primary
May 26, 2009
On Tax Reform:
Keep property tax rebate program
Lonegan said he would do away with property tax rebates and equalize school funding in all districts to lower property taxes. Christie said he would keep the rebate program.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger coverage: 2009 N.J. gubernatorial primary
May 26, 2009
On Welfare & Poverty:
Gut COAH, the Council on Affordable Housing
The state budget took center stage at New Jersey's republican gubernatorial debate. One of the more heated exchanges by Steve Lonegan and Chris Christie on spending came about over the Council on Affordable Housing or COAH. Lonegan asked, "I'm curious to
watch Chris move his position from being in favor of COAH in December, to gutting it and bringing it back in a different form two weeks ago, and to now apparently call for eliminating it altogether. So I'm not really clear what Mr. Christie's position
is, today."Christie responded, "One of the hallmarks of Steve's campaign is to just make it up as he goes along. The fact of the matter is right from day one, I have said I would gut COAH. I guess it was just another one of those times
Steve wasn't listening, but just since we're here tonight and you can hear me, I would gut COAH, that's been my position from the beginning and no matter how many times you say something else, it just doesn't make it so."
Source: Newark Star-Ledger coverage: 2009 N.J. gubernatorial primary
May 12, 2009
On Welfare & Poverty:
Food stamps recipients must be in job training programs
Leaders hailed the opening of a new program designed to help impoverished people get jobs or training so they can remain qualified for food stamps. The pilot program uses private donations to fund jobs & job training to people receiving benefits from the
Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP (formerly "food stamps").Under federal requirements, recipients must have a job or be in a training program to be eligible for the benefit. New Jersey had waived that requirement because of the weak
economy, but last year Gov. Chris Christie's administration refused to extend that waiver. Elected officials gathered to kick off the SNAP Employment and Demonstration Project, the result of legislation sponsored by state senator Ray Lesniak.
Lesniak said, "It matches private sector money to federal money--at no costs to the state--in funding job training for SNAP recipients." Lesniak said 11,000 people statewide would lose their food stamps unless they get jobs or are in training programs.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger on 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial race
Mar 10, 2016
Page last updated: Feb 14, 2023