Chris Christie in 2009 New Jersey gubernatorial debates
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 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 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
Page last updated: Feb 19, 2019