Hold Christie Accountable
(NEW JERSEY) – Today marks the 2nd anniversary of Governor Chris Christie flying to Chicago and promising to bring jobs to New Jersey from Illinois, following his taxpayer-funded campaign to poach from the Prairie State. As much as Christie tries to use SuperStorm Sandy as a reset button in the public eye, the truth is Christie has a three-year track record of failed policies and failing to make good on promises. Lying about bring jobs to New Jersey from Illinois is just one stunning example in which Christie have never been held accountable.
On February 4th, 2011, Christie took a trip to Chicago which may or may not have been paid for by taxpayer dollars. This came on the heels of a major taxpayer-funded public relations blitz to lure businesses and jobs from Illinois to New Jersey. Christie’s administration spent over $300,000 in taxpayer dollars on glossy magazine advertisements and radio spots starring Christie himself. Newspaper ads ran up and down the state - from the Chicago Tribune to the State Journal-Register of Springfield - encouraging businesses to pick up stakes and relocate to the Garden State.
Christie deemed the trip an immediate success and claimed to have met with some 18 various business leaders. Kraft refused to meet with him, but according to Christie, one of the companies he allegedly met with told him they were "sold" on moving to New Jersey. Yet, two years later, New Jersey has absolutely nothing to show from this taxpayer-funded trip nor has Christie made good on his promise.
Christie’s failures when it comes to jobs is more important now more than ever to remember. Month in and out, New Jersey continues to consistently trail the rest of America when it comes to unemployment. Throughout Christie’s entire time at the helm, New Jersey’s employment rate has never been above 9%. New Jersey unemployment currently hovers near 10%. On the other hand, while Christie bashed Illinois when attempting the poach jobs, latest numbers show Illinois unemployment holding steady at 8.7%, with unemployment dropping in 9 of 12 metro markets.
Today, on this 2nd anniversary of a broken promise that has never been followed-up on - and as Christie yuks it up with David Letterman - we hope the press and pundits will reach out to the governor on this particular issue and ask: “Where are the jobs Christie promised from Illinois?” It is long past time for Christie to be held accountable.
On May 24th, 2012, OneNJ penned on op-ed in The Philadelphia Inquirer asking where the promised jobs are 16 months after they were promised. Click here to read the op-ed.
Two weeks later, OneNJ again asked where the jobs are, when Christie went back to the scene of the lie in Chicago on June 8th, 2012 to rub shoulders with right-wingers at the Conservative Political Action Conference. Again Christie remained silent – apparently more focused on his failed audition to become Romney’s VP candidate and deepen his tea-party contacts.
Christie suffers from a pattern of neglect when it comes to jobs and working families. He recently vetoed a minimum wage hike, instead saying it should be raised a measly 25 cents. Last year, CNBC rankings had New Jersey’s business climate slipping to 41st on Christie’s watch. Christie also cancelled the bi-partisan supported ARC tunnel linking New Jersey to Manhattan that would have created 6,000 immediate construction jobs and some 45,000 future jobs.
Moreover, this is just another example of Christie’s rhetoric not matching reality, and using taxpayer dollars to boost his own personal brand – much like his taxpayer-funded GOP rallies under the guise of town halls. Isn’t it time Christie was held accountable?
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One New Jersey is shining a light on politicians who act against the best interests of New Jersey’s residents and who seek to divide our state for their own political gain. It is giving voice to the important issues that affect our daily lives. One New Jersey will closely monitor policy positions and actions of elected officials and expose their records on the issues that matter. You can follow One New Jersey on Twitter (@OneNJ) or search for “One New Jersey” on Facebook.
1 comment:
Christie is a perfect example of all talk and very little action. He is all about tightly controlled town hall meetings that are primarily speeches and self-serving talking points disguised as Q&A sessions with the best interests of the public in mind, when they are always about the best political interests of Christie in mind.
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