This Week's Report Card
By Matt Friedman | March 12th, 2010 - 6:00pmGovernor Christopher Christie discovered he could not lay off state workers without triggering an automatic raise, then started a commission to study privatizing state government jobs. Some of Christie’s nominees were either confirmed by the senate or approved by the judiciary committee (with some uncomfortable questioning in the case of Janet Rosenzweig). And Christie once again pulled out the veto pen, this time voiding spending – again – by the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
So how did Christie and the legislative leaders do? We asked two pollsters two grade their performances.
Governor Christopher J. Christie
Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute
Grade: B-
Comment: In what was his first "My bad!" moment as governor, Christie claims he now can't lay off state workers without kicking in this year's contracted raise. Well, we all knew that the pay increase was only deferred, not withdrawn. If he lays people off in July, he would just have to start paying the raises sooner rather than later. And if he waits until midway through the fiscal year, he can do so without penalty (which can be figured into his upcoming budget). So why all the fuss?
Peter Woolley, director of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind poll
Grade: A
Comment: That's for denying various no-bid and unspecified service contracts with the Delaware River and Bay Authority. The new privatization task force will be asking a question that's worth asking. Let's see what their answers are (...like a homework assignment). Meanwhile, the stark threat of higher NJ Transit fares threatens to hurt the governor in public opinion polls unless the administration can get ahead and stay ahead on the platform of reforming this agency.
Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney
Murray
Grade: C-
Comment: The Senate has been swimming along fine this week. But the dual office-holding Senate President seems to have been more concerned with retaining Democratic seats on the Gloucester County Freeholder Board than with statewide concerns. Sweeney says he will step down as Freeholder Director after he takes care of "unfinished business" (translation: "retain Democratic control of the freeholder board"). Isn't there more than enough work in Trenton to occupy his time?
Woolley
Grade: Check
Comment: Allowing NJ wineries to ship their nectar directly to customers is a step forward... I guess. But approving Bret Schundler as Education Commissioner brings us nearer to a sure-to-be-exciting Public-Schools smack down.
Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver
Murray
Grade: C
Comment: Aside from voicing some concerns about privatization of state jobs, there was little public activity from the Assembly Speaker this week. Those pension reform bills ain't going to pass themselves, you know.
Woolley
Grade: I (Incomplete)
Comment: All Party, no work
Wake-Up Call
Morning News Digest: September 2, 2010
Follow PolitickerNJ on Twitter and FacebookSchundler releases chronology of his firingIn yet another entry in the sordid ledger of his firing, ousted education chief Bret Schundler Wednesday released what he says will be his final word on his termination. In his cover letter to reporters, Schundler said Gov. Chris Christie's accusation that...
The Back Room
Christie v. Sweeney
Beaten up by for being too diplomatic around Gov. Chris Christie, Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford) gave the governor both barrels over the guv's attempt to twist his inner cabinet collapse into anti-Obama Fox News code speak - and the governor didn't appreciate that, according to GOP sources.
Read More >Op-Ed
Help Wanted: New Education Commission Should Recognize Real Reform
As the dust settles on the tenure of Bret Schundler, Chris Christie should be looking for a replacement with a proven track record in education, rather than a political resume. New Jersey needs leadership that respects the integrity of the public... Read More >
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Failure
The Emperor is deigned to fail. He has evidenced a complete lack of understanding of how "government" (and not politics) works. He is clearly a good politian, he and his handlers got him elected. But now what do they do within the framework of the NJ and US Constitutions. To say that this team lacks an understanding of the application of Constitutional considerations to governance is an understatement. As former US Attorneys they showed how they were completely able to ignore the Constitution solely for the purpose of winning. AUSA's during the Christie tenure have been known to say in open court, "We mow people down, that's what we do!" Get ready fellow New Jerseyans, we are in the Land of OZ the Great and Powerful Christie will be shown to be as substantive as the Wizard of OZ, a lot of hot air and no substance.
FJC=Pensioner Corzine09 Drone LOSER
Listen FJC why don't you get out of Ewingville for a bit and realize your socialist, anti-American views are a failure. I'm sure you and your CWA freaks you work with wanted some sort of Corzine-designed workers paradise but its NOT GONNA HAPPEN. Chris has already done more than Whitman, DiFrancesco, McGreevey, Codey and Corzine combined for taxpayers. And now that Scott Brown has won in Massachusetts there is no place left in America for you.
Sticking Around
SeawarenScoop, I am staying around just to give you something to do. Of America doesn't have room for me, that's realy too bad, I was born and raised in New Jersey and intend to stay and say what is on my mind. When you recognize that there are other points of view, you finally figure out that Christie is full of hot air and doesn't know what he is doing. So far, he has issued 15 or 16 meaningless executive orders all for show. Not one of those Order will ever prove viable as a means of attaining budgetary reform or fiscal responsibility. The Emperor of NJ has been a FED for so long, he still thinks he's prosecuting people. The man is inept. By the way, I am not who you think I am. Just an obsever with a point of view that is different than yours. Here's the Christie plan in a nutshell: "Blah, Blah, Blah. I'm not complaining. Blah Blah Blah, I am laying off all the state workers and charging them for parking. Blah, Blah Blah, let's cut the money to developmentally disabled people so they don't have a place to live. Blah, Blah Blah, I can't breach the contracts the State of New Jersey made. Blah, Blah, Blah, I didn't know I couldn't do that". The Emperor of NJ has a nasty attitude and is incompetent. In a short time, it will hit you in your pocket book. The Christie plan for curing the alleged "structural deficit" is to dump it back on the municipalities. When your property taxed increase by 30 to 40% you will trace the cause back to The Emperor of NJ. The man is not wearing any clothes (what a terrible visual).
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