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Chris Christie on Welfare & Poverty
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Focus on income inequality drives America toward mediocrity
Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey delivered an unexpectedly blistering broadside on Tuesday against the Democratic Party's growing emphasis on income inequality, warning that the movement would "drive America toward mediocrity" and portraying its
leaders, like Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York, as local liberals unlikely to ignite a national cause.Christie pooh-poohed the issue and its champions, Mr. de Blasio and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, predicting that they would never
achieve the level of influence that the Tea Party had exerted in the Republican Party. "I don't think they are affecting the rest of the country all that much," he said.
The problem, he said, is that Americans do not want income equality, suggesting
that it is antithetical to the country's abiding belief in "income opportunity" that rewards hard work and merit. "You want income equality? That is mediocrity," he said. "Everybody can have an equal, mediocre salary."
Source: NY Times on "NY Region" in 2013, 2016 presidential hopefuls
, Feb 12, 2014
1996: Working poor hurt by limits on childcare subsidies
1996: Working poor hurt by limits on childcare subsidies
When Governor Christine Todd Whitman proposed welfare reforms in 1996, Christie signed a letter written on behalf of the freeholder board urging changes to the plan, because, he said, the working poor could be hurt by proposed rules on subsidized child
1996: Working poor hurt by limits on childcare subsidies
"Many working poor are at risk of losing their childcare subsidy," wrote the freeholders. "Loss of childcare may mean a parent will no longer be able to work and will have to go on welfare, setting up a vicious cycle which
Source: Rise to Power, by B. Ingle & M. Symons, p. 53-54
, Jun 5, 2012
$100 supplement for seniors' home cooling assistance
Gov. Christie today announced that approximately 135,000 seniors and disabled households throughout New Jersey will receive help with home cooling expenses this summer in addition to winter home heating assistance through the Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Those New Jerseyans who need it most will soon receive an emergency $100 supplemental benefit to help cope with the recent heat wave. An additional 47,000 households that received medically-required cooling assistance will
also receive a $100 supplemental benefit to address the hot summer temperatures and higher electric utility bills. The benefits will begin distribution in mid-August."With this summer's temperatures peaking around 100 degrees, many New Jerseyans are
struggling with higher utility bills to beat the heat," said Gov. Christie. Eligible households do not need to reapply for the program to receive supplemental benefits. These funds will be issued as credits to utility accounts or issued by check
Source: 2011 gubernatorial press release, "Summer Energy Bills"
, Aug 1, 2011
Urban Fund and NJ Enterprise Zones don't work
Gov. Corzine has followed the same path as those before him and despite bold promises, hasn't made any progress or achieved any real results. Programs like the Urban Fund and New Jersey Enterprise Zones have been renewed year after year despite the
absence of any clear indication that they are actually working. Meanwhile, unemployment in our urban cities is nearly 15%, only 40% of students pass the High School Placement Test, on average there are 1,700 violent crimes per year, and more than
22% people live below the poverty line. The Christie Plan looks at four areas that need improvement if NJ's cities are going to be vibrant communities where parents can raise their family.-
Improve the quality of urban schools and expand educational opportunities
- Provide affordable, quality housing for those who need it most
- Make our cities attractive to business and job growth
- Improve public safety and cut violent crime.
Source: 2009 Gubernatorial campaign website, christiefornj.com
, Jul 21, 2009
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: Jan 19, 2015
