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.
-
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 -
Christie goes off script here to really emphasize how much disability fraud hurts taxpayers. -
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."
-
by CNN via twitter 1/14/2014 8:33:22 PMNJ Gov. #ChrisChristie : 'Mistakes were clearly made' cnn.it/1dtoTgo vine.co/v/hLduxzaTnZJ
-
"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."
-
"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."
-
"We are making a large investment in public education, everybody. New Jersey spends over $25 billion a year, all told. Our per pupil expenditure is the highest in the nation at over $17,000 per year."
-
"In some cases - I believe in too many - our children are not receiving the education they deserve. While many public schools are strong, too many, too many are still failing. While the vast majority of teachers are performing well, some are underperforming – and they should be removed from our children's' classroom."
-
"The need to be better is particularly acute in New Jersey’s cities. Our urban schools demand our attention, and believe me, they have mine."
-
"Where bold action was necessary, we have taken bold action. And we have made a commitment to the kids in our cities that they have a right to the same quality education as kids in our suburbs."
-
"In our largest school system, in Newark, we have brought in a new organization and new resources, not only in the form of state aid but in collaboration with parents, teachers, and community leaders on the ground in Newark. One result – we negotiated a historic contract with the teacher’s union and delivered real merit pay alongside increased teacher involvement."
-
"Most importantly we want to encourage innovation while listening to the specific needs of our urban communities. It’s the reason why we have empowered our superintendents in Newark and Camden to make choices that work best for their kids, their parents and their schools."
-
"In Newark, that superintendent is Cami Anderson. Cami has moved to pay the best teachers, to stop actions that are failing kids, to empower 50 new principals, to create cooperation between the public schools and the public charter schools and to reorganize the school systems’ structure to put the focus on kids, their schools and the parents first."
-
"Early childhood enrollment has increased by more than 1,000 students....Graduation rates have increased by 10%. Newark is leading the conversation in making sure every kid – those who are behind, those who are ahead, those who have special education needs – are lifted up."
-
"(Cami Anderson's) efforts haven’t always been met without skepticism, but she is a true partner with Newark. Cami is here with us today." He asks her to stand.
-
"Despite the improvements we are seeing in Newark and Camden, I believe we need to take bigger and broader steps to adjust our K-12 education approach, to address the new competitive world we live in. Let's face it. If my children are living under the same school calendar that I lived under, the definition of school calendars is antiquated...Life in 2014 demands something more for our students. It is time to lengthen both the school day and school year in New Jersey."
-
-
A highlight from the top of the speech: -
The New Jersey teachers union welcomes a discussion on extending the school year: "“I welcome the opportunity to sit down with Gov. Christie and the Department of Education to discuss the benefits and challenges of implementing an extended school day and school year. That discussion must include educators and parents as well, to ensure that all concerns are taken into account and it should be based on research and evidence." -- NJEA President Wendell Steinhauer
-
by Dan Merica via twitter 1/14/2014 8:44:51 PMSo far Christie's main points: Mistakes made on bridge scandal, bipartisanship works, property taxes should be lower and education a focus. -
"We must do everything we can to swiftly jail those violent criminals who bring additional murder and disruption to innocent victims across our state. We have the tools to do this – some of which we’ve begun, some of which we have not. I believe 2014 must be the year we finish the job."
-
"The federal government allows a violent criminal who judged by the Court to be a danger to the community to be held without bail. New Jersey law does not. This must change. How can we justify exposing our citizens to the risk of violent crime at the hands of those, already in custody, who a court determines are predisposed to commit it again? I believe there is no justification for that. Let us mirror federal law. Let us work together to pass bail reform in 2014." (applause)
-
"We must reach out a hand of compassion and common sense to those who commit non-violent crimes. We must do a better job of reclaiming their lives and putting them back on the road to success and engagement with our society. My belief is simple: every human life is precious, and no life, no life is disposable."
-
"That is why I proposed last year to change our approach to non-violent drug offenders, and mandate treatment, not imprisonment. Together, together we made this possible. The drug court program has been a success, thanks in part to your support in funding both the court and the treatment. And I thank you for passage this past year of the Overdose Protection Act. We should not be prosecuting those Good Samaritans and health professionals who are trying to help in a life-threatening overdose situation."
-
"For me this is personal. In this room today is a man who was a drug addict at 16 years old. His life was at risk, he was imprisoned, but treatment saved him. He was rehabilitated at Daytop Village...He graduated from high school, went to college, and ultimately got a law degree and passed the bar exam. I had the privilege of hiring him as a summer intern...and working with Craig Hanlon at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Craig is with us now in this Chamber. If you need proof that reclaiming a life is possible and that every life has precious and has value...then that proof is in this chamber today, a practicing lawyer, who at 16 years old was in jail as a drug addict. Craig, welcome and thank you for making New Jersey a better place." (applause, Christie hugs Craig)
-
"Because of the years I've known Craig, I know personally the passion and strength that comes from the human desire to have a better life. And I believe we can do more to help give people a second chance. That is why today I am proposing an initiative to expand integrated treatment and employment services for individuals receiving drug treatment services."
-
"By providing grant funds in the amount of $500,000 to be managed in partnership with The Nicholson Foundation, we will place individuals in jobs and help improve their retention. We will work directly with treatment providers so that they integrate employment services with drug treatment services for drug court participants."
-
"Research shows that employment during substance abuse treatment helps ensure continued participation in treatment and gives them sustainable long-term employment. With this partnership we will help empower individuals who want and deserve the opportunity to live a life like Craig's, a life redeemed and well lived."
-
"A year ago this afternoon, our state was in recovery from a challenge not of our own making. Superstorm Sandy devastated New Jersey in the fall of 2012 – flooding our homes, turning off our power and destroying our roads. Despite the magnitude and devastation of the storm, the one thing we've learned in the last year plus is that Sandy could not break out state's spirit."
-
"From the very beginning, the priority for this administration was putting those with the greatest needs and with the most limited financial resources at the front of the line. Of the nearly half of the housing money that has been obligated so far, 72.9% of that money has been awarded to low- and middle-income families."
-
"The bottom line is this: we are a long way from the finish line, but we are also a long way from where we were one year ago. Challenges remain and I will not rest until every person hurt by Sandy has their life back to normal. That is my mission."
-
"I want to thank this Legislature, and all New Jerseyans, for the cooperative, bipartisan and resilient spirit that you demonstrated in coming back from Sandy. Let that spirit of Sandy be a powerful lesson to all of us, that when times are most difficult, cooperation and progress are possible. Indeed, I tell you, they are necessary."
-
"Lastly, let me share with you one more, hard truth that makes this new attitude of choice...necessary for New Jersey’s future. We have discussed many exciting opportunities for investment in our state...K-12 education. Higher education. Crime prevention. Drug rehabilitation and job training coming together. Increased access to health care. Infrastructure investment. Lower taxes. Job growth. All exciting, all of which, done responsibly, could make New Jersey an even greater place. But here is the simple truth. Everybody in this government knows: We cannot afford to do it right now."
-
"Why? In large part because of our pension and debt service costs. For the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget, the increase in pension and debt service costs could amount to as much as nearly $1 billion. That’s nearly $1 billion we can’t spend on education. That we can’t invest in infrastructure improvement. That we can’t use to put more cops on the street... And for those who would advocate for higher income taxes like the ones I have vetoed before, remember that the amount raised would not even cover the increase in our scheduled pension payment for next year and would undoubtedly make us less competitive in this fiercely competitive national job market."
-
"These are the consequences of failing to engage in an attitude of choice. If we continue in an era where we believe we can choose everything, let me suggest to you that we are really choosing nothing. We need to have the conversation now about further changes to our pension system and about adding further to our state’s debt load. But the time to avoid this conversation and these choices is nearly over, everybody. If we do not choose to reduce our soaring pension and debt service costs, we will miss the opportunity to improve the lives of every New Jersey citizen, not just a select few. "
-
by Dan Merica via twitter 1/14/2014 9:00:21 PMChristie's first mention of Superstorm Sandy comes deep into his State of the State address. "Sandy could not break our spirit," he says.
-
"I am ready to engage in those conversations and help, with you, to truly create in this state an attitude of choice. The result will be a better, smarter, stronger New Jersey. The results from our refusal to make the touch choice, our refusal to choose will be a weaker New Jersey...The only way to continue to pay for this is to burden our middle class with higher taxes...That is an abandonment of our duty."
-
"Our destiny is not set – it is the product of the choices we make. Our future is not set – it, too, is the product of the choices we make from this day forward. So let us choose wisely. And let us not fail to act. Let us create an attitude of choice."
-
by The Lead CNN via twitter retweeted by CNNPolitics 1/14/2014 9:01:30 PMNJ Gov. Christie uses the power of his office to defend himself against accusations that he abused the power of his office. #TheLead is live
