Chris Christie (NJ Gov, R) is a big crook

[annabanana]

He's out there bloviating against the teachers while he pads his own payroll. He's looking to take the whole NJ defecit out of the hide of teachers while his big corporate friends are paying, what, exactly, in taxes?. .

I think NJ may be having a little buyer's remorse today. (really curious to see how today's school board elections turn out)

[hobbit709]

1. Crook and R are interchangeable terms.

Along with lying ass.

[TommyO]

2. The payroll for the Christie's staff went up $2M compared to Corzine's staff

http://www.app.com/article/20100419/NEWS03/100419081/Governor-s-office-payroll-goes-up-2-million-under-Christie

The AP analysis found that while Christie, a Republican, is proposing laying off 1,300 state workers, he is spending nearly $2 million more on annual salaries than his predecessor, former Gov. Jon S. Corzine, a Democrat.

According to an Asbury Park Press online database of 2009 public payroll records, 18 people made $100,000 or more in 2009 under Corzine. According to payroll records posted on Christie's website on April 8, 34 people in his administration make six figures — including the governor himself, who makes $175,000 by law.

...

Using Christie's figures and those from the Asbury Park Press, the average salary under Corzine was $67,961; the average under Christie is $76,068.

Of course, this comes while he's attacking teachers and their salaries.

[tilsammans]

3. Christie is your typical, standard-issue Rethug

Take from everyone else and give to cronies. :puke:

[karynnj]

4. I think you might be right

In addition, the Governor pretty much came out and told people to vote down the school board budgets. Like you, I am really curious to see how they come out. The alternative is very drastic. In my town the options are very drastic - http://www.njelderlawestateplanning.com/2010/03/articles/miscellaneous-musings/randolph-nj-schools-at-a-crossroad-what-do-we-value/

Now, the obvious solution is the tax increase, but that will inflame people against the governor - especially with the article you refer to showing the current governor's staff is about 30% more expensive than Corzine's.

Now, back to my little town. Saturday, my husband and I went to a social event in the area of town I live in had. The town itself is majority Republican - and many Independents voted for Christie because he promised to restore property tax rebates for high income people who lost them last year - instead, no one gets them! Many people were completely angry that the excellent public schools, that they moved here for, may be seriously downgraded. They were angriest at the idea that there would be no busing for kids living less than 2 miles from school, no free kindergarten, and no feeless sports or other activities. (The school has a fantastic music program now.)

My kids are all well beyond high school, but it is really unacceptable that things were done the way they were. The governor attacked the teacher's union as soon as he got in - rather than reaching out to include them in the process. This has also placed them in a position they likely will need to back down from. They really might have to agree to a wage freeze - and in fairness, most businesses froze wages or even cut them in the last year. But the "grownups" need to find a solution, that does not cause the kids to suffer. (One of my kids, pointed out that her age group was impacted. One of her friends is a teacher, who by working in the public schools has had some of her federal school loans reduced. She knows that she will not have a job where she is next year and she can't find a NJ public school hiring.)