Gov. Christie State of the State address
Live updates on embattled New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's annual State of the State speech, in which he addressed the controversies swirling around his administration.
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Christie: I am ultimately responsible
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From CNN's Paul Steinhauser: Tuesday's State of the State address is the most important speech of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's career.
The embattled Republican, who's seriously considering a 2016 run for the White House, is facing multiple controversies that threaten to complicate his political future.
And because of his national standing and the unfolding political scandal that has rocked his administration, a usual routine appearance by the state's chief executive each year to talk about what's happening in New Jersey will this year garner a coast-to-coast spotlight.
"This will be the most watched State of the State address, most likely, across the country. Other governors are probably not envious of Christie's problems but they are envious of his spotlight," said CNN Chief National Correspondent John King. Here's what to watch for. -
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by Jake Tapper via twitter 1/14/2014 7:59:09 PMGov Chris Christie's office -- they're still revising his speech. Trenton vine 3 #TheLead vine.co/v/hLwwUeqO0vZ
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by Mark Preston via twitter 1/14/2014 8:01:54 PMNot near a TV? You can watch Christie's State of the State Live Now on CNN.com: cnn.com/video/?/video/… -
by CNN's Ashley Killough via YouTube 1/14/2014 8:04:06 PMAhead of Christie's speech, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee put out a web video blasting the governor for the recent bridge scandal, saying in a statement the controversy gives "New Jersey a black eye on the national stage." See the video here
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A large portion of Christie's State of the State address last year was focused on Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts. Read about the 2013 speech.
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by Paul Steinhauser via twitter 1/14/2014 8:12:57 PMMost Americans haven't changed their opinion of Christie in recent days, but his approval rating/favorables among NJ residents have dropped -
The event is getting underway with an opening prayer.
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The legislature stands and applauds as Christie walks in. He shakes hands with state legislators and gives some hugs as he walks down the aisle.
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About two minutes after walking in, Christie takes the podium to some cheers. His wife, Mary Pat, is sitting on the front row to his left. The audience continues to stand and applaud for about a minute after he takes the podium.
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by Dan Merica via twitter 1/14/2014 8:18:34 PMOn the way into State of State address, @GovChristie shakes hands with State Sen. Wisniewski, the man investigating the bridge controversy. -
"The last week has certainly tested this administration. Mistakes were clearly made. And as a result, we let down the people we are entrusted to serve. I know our citizens deserve better. Much better."
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"I am the governor and I am ultimately responsible for all that happens on my watch - both good and bad."
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"Without a doubt we will cooperate with all appropriate inquiries to ensure this breach of trust does not happen again."
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"But I also want to assure the people of New Jersey today that what has occurred does not define us or our state. This administration and this legislature will not allow the work that needs to be done to improve the people’s lives in New Jersey to be delayed for any reason." (applause)
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"I am the leader of this state and its people and I stand here today proud to be both." (applause)
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"Now I come before you once again for the fourth time to report on the state of our state."
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"And today, the state of the state is good, and getting better."
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"Four years ago, right now, we were in the throes of economic crisis. Today, our unemployment rate is 7.8%, that is the lowest in 5 years."
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by Paul Steinhauser via twitter 1/14/2014 8:21:29 PMNJ Gov. Chris Christie's State of the State address: It's not just what he says, but how he says it aka tone matters!
cnn.it/1kAbW8i -
by Dan Merica via twitter 1/14/2014 8:21:37 PMAnd there is Christie's turn away from the bridge scandal.
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"Four years ago, we were losing jobs. Today, we have gained 70,000 jobs in 2013 alone, and a total of 156,000 in the last four years." (applause)
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"Four years ago, wealth and jobs were leaving the state. Today, personal income for New Jerseyans is at an all-time high, and we are attracting new companies."
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"And that has brought jobs – we now have four straight years of private sector job growth. (applause) In fact, in November, the drop in our unemployment rate was the largest one month drop ever measured. And in the last year, New Jersey had the second largest drop in its unemployment rate in America."
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"We could have chosen to go down a path of continued tax increases to fund the state’s addiction to spending. But we didn’t. We held the line against any new taxes, and brought spending in the current fiscal year to a level below fiscal year 2008 – six years ago."
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"We could have let state government grow, even while the private sector shrank. But we didn’t. Today, there are 6,000 fewer state employees than when I took office four years ago, but there are more than 155,000 new more private sector employees."
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"We improved our business climate, and today, by every measure, business confidence in New Jersey is up. In fact, one national magazine ranked New Jersey among the top 5 states with the most improved business climates in America."
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"It’s no accident how we got to this place today. No accident at all. We chose, we chose the way. And in this new year and in the next four years, we need to build on this momentum by creating a new attitude: we need to create an attitude of choice."
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"An attitude of choice is not about choosing everything; it is not about saying yes to everyone; it is about setting our priorities and choosing to invest in New Jersey where it matters and to put in place the reforms and the reductions that will make that possible."
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"And the best part of our turnaround in these past four years is because we have chosen to work together....These are our achievements: Four balanced budgets. Passed with bipartisan support. Pension reform and tenure reform. Passed with bipartisan support. A cap on property taxes. Passed with bipartisan support."
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"We acted and we acted together. Even though the competition among the states is fierce, no state in this country has shown more bipartisan cooperation in governance over the last four years than New Jersey and we are proud of it. Let’s resolve today that we will continue to put our people first. We will choose to do our jobs."
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"One of the things that drove people out of New Jersey in the past decade was high property taxes. In 2010, together, we capped them. The 2% cap has worked. In these past two years, property tax growth has been the lowest in two decades."
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"But the job is far from finished. Property taxes are still too high. So today, I ask for you to join me in enacting a new property tax relief initiative that tackles the root causes that are driving up property taxes in the first place."
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"First, let's get some context: the 2% cap we’ve already enacted has worked for a reason...We’ve done it by controlling costs. We accompanied it with reform of an interest arbitration award system that we all knew needed fixing."
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"We have worked with the Senate to try to pass real consolidation and civil service reform. We haven’t gotten it done in the Assembly. We need to have an effort that includes everyone responsible for property taxes – the Senate, the Assembly, our administration and local government to provide them with the authority to run their governments like a business: consolidate, share services, cut duplication and ultimately to reduce property taxes."
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"When it comes to driving costs, let’s not forget...the expensive practice of six figure sick leave payouts for government employees. Sick time should be used when you’re sick. And if you’re lucky enough to be healthy, that should be your reward. Sick leave has been abused too many times, and the cost is real. Almost a billion dollars in liability facing New Jersey towns - $880 million to be exact...And it will only get higher if the system is not fixed. These reforms are common sense: so let’s lift this billion dollar albatross off the necks of New Jersey’s towns. Let’s together in a bipartisan way enact the zero means zero plan." (applause)
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"Our pension system is burdened by some who collect disability retirement because they claim they are 'totally and permanently disabled,' but then they turn around and go back and work full-time. This is wrong and it hurts our system...So first we’ve established by Executive Order a special unit to prosecute pension fraud...Let’s go even further to solidify our pension system and reduce costs by reforming our disability retirement system to end this fraud and abuse."
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by Dan Merica via twitter 1/14/2014 8:31:15 PMChristie (paraphrase): Those property taxes are too damn high.
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by Jake Tapper via twitter 1/14/2014 8:31:35 PMAfter "mistakes were clearly made," acceptance of responsibility and pledge to cooperate, Christie moves on in speech to NJ business
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Christie goes off script here to really emphasize how much disability fraud hurts taxpayers.
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by Sara Fischer via twitter 1/14/2014 8:32:09 PM.@GovChristie brags about bipartisan action of NJ lawmakers. Of the 12 U.S. Reps. from NJ there are six Democrats and six Republicans. #cnn -
"I will have more to say about New Jersey’s taxes when I present my budget to you next month. That is for a reason....I will tell you one choice we will not make – because it is one answer that will not help grow our state--and that is raising taxes."
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by CNN via twitter 1/14/2014 8:33:22 PMNJ Gov. #ChrisChristie : 'Mistakes were clearly made' cnn.it/1dtoTgo vine.co/v/hLduxzaTnZJ
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"It is equally clear that improving education is a key to helping our growth....We’ve made some great progress in these past four years: a record amount of school aid, long-overdue reform of our system of teacher tenure, an increase in the number of charter schools and an Urban Hope Act that is bringing renaissance schools to some of our most challenged cities."
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"Some of the results we're seeing already are promising. Last year, New Jersey’s high school graduation rate increased by a full percentage point, to 87.5%. Student achievement is strong in many of our public schools, and New Jersey’s students are among the country’s greatest achievers. Just a few years ago, a graduate of my own high school, Livingston High School, won the Nobel Prize in chemistry."
