March 18, 2009 - 3:08pm
News

Corzine: 'I am glad this is all over'

Governor Corzine today expressed relief that the question of whether he will be forced to reveal his email correspondence with ex-girlfriend/former union leader Carla Katz has been resolved by the State Supreme Court’s refusal to hear Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson’s case.

“I am glad this is all over. I think we had a political fishing trip by folks that has gone on far too long.  I think that the things that we are working on here today, things of real substance, are what public life is supposed to be all about,” said Corzine in a statement.

Wilson argued that the emails should be aired so the public can judge whether Corzine and Katz engaged in back-channel negotiations during contract talks with Katz’s former union, CWA Local 1034.  

Today, Corzine defended the contract they ultimately agreed on, saying that it saved the state $6.4 billion and “broke a lot of new ground in with reforms to pensions and benefits.”

“It is very clear from the multiple judges who have seen it, as well as the ethics panel, that is it time for this all to be over,” he said.  

The statement did not address Wilson’s request for Corzine to release the emails now that the precedent for executive privilege has been established.  
 

Matt Friedman is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at matt@politicsnj.com.

Related topics: JON CORZINE, Carla Katz, Tom Wilson