5 Interesting Aspects of Gov. Christie’s State of the State Address

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

The only “news” in today’s well-delivered but substantively modest State of the State address involved an expansion of drug addiction treatment services (a pet issue for the Governor) and this:

Biggest news today: Christie says “I will be standing here in one year” at #stateofthestate (translation: so no resignation to run) #tcot

— The Save Jersey Blog (@SaveJersey) January 13, 2015

And then he said it again, infused with a little characteristic humor, when the Democrats sat on their hands:

Christie definitively says he won’t resign to run for prez. “By the way I WILL be standing here in one year.” Then he repeats it — Matt Friedman (@MattFriedmanSL) January 13, 2015

So there’s that. 

And the Governor certainly said plenty about the future, including a very articulate demand for “the legislature today to open your eyes and ears to the lessons of Mercedes and to act now to lower taxes and prevent another such departure,” something I was hoping he’d discuss in the proper context. And he did. New Jersey’s affordability crisis should always should be priority #1.

He also pledged to veto any income tax increase:

“Between 2004 and 2008 the departure of wealth, investment, and income was staggering — some $70 billion left the state,” Christie explained, quite accurately. “We have begun a new direction and we need to go further, not reverse course.”

A few other items of interest?

(1) Christie isn’t resigning for the primary… but maybe the general?

As one of our readers pointed out via social media, Chris Christie added the significant modifier “I will be here in one year…” to his prepared remarks, beginning “So that when we stand here in one year…”

So he may be running for president, Save Jerseyans, but he’s likely not resigning for the primary portion at least.

 (2) Several favorite (and important) Christie topics got no attention.

He’s put a lot of work into some of these items, Save Jerseyans, but if you take a hard look at his remarks, you will notice some glaring omissions:

• No mention of Atlantic City
• No mention of the Transportation Trust Fund (or a gas tax – distinguishable from the income tax!)
• No mention of Hurricane Sandy (one reference to the Shore, in passing, generally)
• He only mentioned property taxes 5 times, and each reference referred back to the 2.0 cap and its success

His most-discussed topic? $54.8 million for mandatory drug treatment. My response: why not a pilot statewide voucher program? Trapped kids > drug addicts. And I’m sorry, but I still throw up a little bit in my mouth every single time I see Jim McGreevey. Always will.

(3) He focused a lot on Camden… maybe a bit too much?

You’re familiar with my thoughts on the topic, Save Jerseyans. WNYC’s Matt Katz raises an interesting point post-address:

.@GovChristie all but declared victory in Camden, long poorest & most dangerous city in America. #StateofState

— Matt Katz (@mattkatz00) January 13, 2015

No one should blame Gov. Christie for anything going wrong in Camden; still, from a strictly-political POV, I wonder if he should do so much – and say so much – as to tempt presidential rivals into trying to hang Camden’s continue distress on him?

(4) The address was devoid of big, bold economic/education proposals.

This is my only real substantive complaint, Save Jerseyans.

Again, I loved his comments about Mercedes and the importance of school choice, notably plugging this long-languishing item…

Opportunity Scholarship Act (i.e vouchers) is first actual proposal in speech.

— Patrick Murray (@PollsterPatrick) January 13, 2015

What I wanted to see? Him picking a fight with the Dems on taxes, vouchers, gutting a department… something. Pitch a big, bold, conservative, and forward-looking proposal even if it had little chance of near-term transference into law.

Not just for the sake of a fight, but to advance the political discussion for future cycles and give 2015’s legislative slates something tangible upon which to campaign.

Wouldn’t something like that also catch the eye of persuadable New Hampshire and South Carolina primary voters?

His reluctance to do so is obviously part of a macro-strategy that includes a tactical alliance with the South Jersey Democrat Machine and, of course, a grim recognition of the realities of a crappy legislative map. Still, I maintain that this Administration’s post-redistricting inclination to focus on “small ball” is largely (not totally) responsible for the Governor’s plummeting approval rating. In other words, it’s an avoidable complication. It’s too damn bad for him and us. I’m trying to help!

(5) Today’s address was as much a national campaign speech as a State of the State.

The state press corps are going nuts of this particular news nugget:

https://twitter.com/ChasingRonica/status/555069387179585536

It’s a no-harm, no foul situation because, like I discussed above, there wasn’t much New Jersey news in the speech for them to discuss with him!

The Governor did talk a lot about (1) things that happened in his first term, and (2) the need for “an American renewal” since it “remains a country ill at ease” under the leadership of Barack Obama.

No disagreement there! And in total fairness, this Governor does have stuff to hang his hat on. Pensions reforms, the property tax cap, arbitration reform, etc. and so on. More than some thought a Republican could ever accomplish back before he won in ’09.

But it was clear to me – and anyone listening – that the Christie Administration is now fully (and openly) shifting its focus from getting more big things done here, in New Jersey and with this Democrat legislature, to making a national argument about how the Governor’s leadership style is best for the country at-large. He does have a story to tell… no doubt about that…

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us