Christie’s Party Helps Repay New Jersey for Two Copter Trips

[DainBramaged]

New Jersey Republicans and Chris Christie said they reimbursed $3,383.79 to taxpayers for the governor’s use of a police helicopter to travel to two baseball games that included his son.

Christie, who has asked workers to give up benefits as part of “shared sacrifice” in cutting the cost of government, used the chopper to travel from Trenton to Montvale on May 31 to watch his son play catcher for Delbarton School, and then flew to Princeton for a meeting with Iowa Republicans. The flight cost $2,500 an hour, State Police Sergeant Stephen Jones said.

“I wrote the check and that’s the end of it,” Christie, 48, told reporters at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Denville, where he signed legislation to require heart screening for newborns.

The governor’s comments today were his first since the controversy erupted. At one point he called the criticism “silliness” and said it came from “political hacks.”

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-06-02/christie-s-party-helps-repay-new-jersey-for-two-copter-trips.html

[liberal N proud]

1. But he isn't paying for the "Personal" trips

Getting others to pick up the tab.

:crazy:

[rfranklin]

2. Christie tops it off by calling Assemblywoman a "jerk"

Thursday’s news conference was not without its share of political theater. Christie took the opportunity to respond to criticism by Assemblywoman Valarie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) that his priorities were off because he left his son’s game in the fifth inning, calling her a "jerk" and saying that she should be embarrassed.

"We know what Mrs. Huttle cares about more is scoring cheap political points," he said.

Vainieri Huttle called the comments "disappointing," but said she didn’t think they warranted a response.

Assembly Majority Leader Joe Cryan (D-Union) did, however. He said Christie "instinctively resorts to insult when legitimately criticized."

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/unrepentant_gov_christie_says.html

You should hear Christie going for sympathy as he whines about how as a father he must attend his son's baseball game. Well, governor, how about all those state employees who can't attend their kids games because they don't have a helicopter at their disposal? And aren't you ashamed at needing a limo for a 100 yard walk?

[tinymontgomery]

3. Does that amount pa for the ware

Does that amount pay for the maintenance, ware and tear that comes each time the helo goes up? Or was it just for the fuel?