GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT
Christie Advises Republicans " Be Bold " To Win Voter Support
By Diane C . Walsh Editor , COMMERCE
In the blunt style that ’ s defined his career , former Gov . Chris Christie told an audience at a CIANJ event that New Jersey will be confronting a fiscal crisis by 2026 – at the latest .
He faulted Gov . Phil Murphy for “ boosting ” the state economy with federal money that has poured in since the COVID‐19 pandemic struck . Since Murphy took office , Christie said state spending has grown by $ 19 billion . “ If you don ’ t think that ’ s artificial , tell me what it is ,” he said during a free-wheeling conversation with CIANJ President Anthony Russo that touched on political divisions across the nation , the debt ceiling , voting by mail , and , of course , Christie ’ s possible run for president .
Republican Christie stunned the political pundits in 2009 when he was elected governor in the blue bastion of New Jersey , where the Democrats enjoy a 1 million vote margin over the GOP . In his first year in office , he slashed spending and delivered a $ 29 billion budget to overcome a huge deficit . Most of the state budget is pre-determined by the cost of debt payments , pensions , and health benefits for public workers , he explained , alluding to the “ awful choices ” left to reduce spending in other programs for a balanced budget .
After two terms in office , Christie ’ s budget topped out at $ 34 billion – a $ 5 billion increase . He asserted it was a “ flat budget ,” with the exceptions of increases for debt service , pensions and health benefits . While the budget proposed by Murphy in this his sixth year in office is $ 53.5 billion .
Christie charged his Democratic successor “ has done nothing to make the economy grow ” in the Garden State . In Christie ’ s estimation , the state ’ s had a “ lackluster ” recovery from the pandemic and is still burdened by a huge corporate tax and other levies that are sending residents fleeing .
Still , he said Murphy is “ among the luckiest Former NJ Governor Chris Christie people I have every met ” because the Republican believes New Jersey ’ s financial nosedive will not Continued On Page 27