Buono Campaign: Christie Out-of-Touch with New Jersey Values

New Brunswick, NJ - Buono for Governor Communications Director David Turner released the following statement in response to Governor Christie's new television advertisement: "On any number of issues important to New Jerseyans, Governor Christie has been out of step with the majority of the state. From opposing a woman's right to choose to vetoing marriage equality to siding with the gun lobby, Chris Christie has consistently taken right-wing positions that put his presidential prospects ahead of what's right for New Jersey." CHRISTIE'S BIPARTISANSHIP IS MORE ABOUT STYLE THAN SUBSTANCE John Nichols Of The Nation: Christie's "Bipartisan" Effort Were Often Gestures "About Style, Not Policy," And Contradicted By His Claim As A "Damn Good Republican And Good Conservative Republican." "WHEN Governor Christie was asked in mid-May about his political bona fides, he replied, 'I'm a damn good Republican and a good conservative Republican.' Believe what he says — especially the 'conservative' part. Sure, Christie goes out of his way to say nice things about President Obama, who worked closely with the governor to provide immediate and essential support to New Jersey communities battered by superstorm Sandy. And yes, Christie's been willing to call out some of the most absurd excesses of his fellow Republicans. But these gestures are about style, not policy. The first-term governor has been meticulous about positioning his fall reelection campaign as a "bipartisan" effort.." [Op-Ed John Nichols, Bergen Record, 5/20/13] CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION HAS REPEATEDLY BLOCKED IMPLEMENTATION OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE DESPITE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AND EVEN PRESSURED MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY TO REJECT Bergen Record Editorial: "From Maine To The District Of Columbia, New Jersey Is The Only Northeast Coastal State Refusing To Recognize Marriage Equality." [Editorial, Bergen Record, 5/9/13] 2/18/13: Christie Vetoed Same-Sex Marriage Legislation Six Hours After Passage. "Gov. Chris Christie Friday made good on his vow to swiftly veto a gay marriage bill that passed the Legislature this week, saying he'd only agree to a measure that would strengthen New Jersey's civil union law. Christie, a Republican, issued his conditional veto of the bill (S1) six hours after it reached his desk, and a day after the Assembly gave it final legislative approval. In a six-page statement, Christie said there is no fundamental constitutional right to same-sex marriage, but gay couples in New Jersey have all the rights and benefits of married couples through civil unions." [Star Ledger, 2/18/12] Christie's Administration Filed A Brief Defending State's Civil Union Act Called "The Most Incoherent Defense Of Heterosexual Supremacy Yet." "New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration filed a brief last week defending the state's 2006 Civil Union Act, which grants gay couples all the benefits of marriage yet bars them from actually getting married. The brief is Christie's first official legal statement on same-sex marriage. Given his apparent aspiration to be the next Republican nominee for president, it is especially too bad that the brief also may be the most incoherent defense of heterosexual supremacy yet." [Slate, 8/5/13] New York Times: Republicans Confessed They Fear Overriding On Marriage Equality. "Democrats need three more votes to override Mr. Christie's veto, which means they need cooperation from Republican lawmakers. But several Republicans have said privately that while they support same-sex marriage, they fear voting against the governor, who is famous for enforcing party discipline." [New York Times, 7/2/13] CHRISTIE VETOED VIOLENCE PREVENTION LEGISLATION THAT HAD WIDE SUPPORT IN NEW JERSEY AFTER BEING LOBBIED BY A NEW HAMPSHIRE PRO-GUN GROUP Star-Ledger Headline: "Poll: 3 Gun Bills Vetoed By Christie Have Wide Support In N.J." "New Jersey residents overwhelmingly support three gun control bills that Gov. Chris Christie last month either vetoed or refused to sign without significant changes, according to a new poll. The Rutgers-Eagleton poll of 925 New Jerseyans found that 65 percent either "strongly support" or "somewhat support" a bill to ban the .50 caliber Barrett rifle – which Christie proposed in April but vetoed when the Legislature sent a version to his desk. Support for the two bills Christie conditionally vetoed – meaning he recommended changes and sent them back to the Legislature – is stronger. Eighty-two percent support Senate President Stephen Sweeney's (D-Gloucester) "centerpiece" bill that would encode firearms purchase permits either on driver's licenses or a separate photo ID card, require gun buyers complete safety training to buy a firearm and expand background checks. Christie gutted that bill, removing its biggest provisions, and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said Wednesday that he did not plan to concur with Christie's veto. Eighty-five percent said they support another bill Christie conditionally vetoed that would require the state report information on lost, stolen and lost and discarded guns to federal databases (A3797). [Star-Ledger, 9/19/13] Asbury Park Press Editorial: Christie Vetoed Three Gun Control Pieces After Being Lobbied By Gun-Rights Group In NH Against New Laws, And A Former NJ Republican Governor Who Were Supportive, "Demonstrating Once Again He Is More Interested In Angling For The 2016 Republican Nomination For President Than In Keeping The Residents Of New Jersey Safe." "On Friday, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed three of four pieces of gun control legislation, demonstrating once again he is more interested in angling for the 2016 Republican nomination for president than in keeping the residents of New Jersey safe, including those in the capital. The vetoes came after a gun-rights group in the presidential primary state of New Hampshire had warned Christie that signing the bills passed by the New Jersey Legislature could have negative consequences if he runs for president in 2016. At the same time, Christie ignored the advice of two former Republican New Jersey governors to sign all four gun bills. His vetoes and the stated reasons behind them are based on faulty reasoning and the hope that the right wing of the Republican Party will accept his prior apostasy on guns." [Editorial, Asbury Park Press, 8/19/13] MSNBC: "The National Rifle Association Quickly Took Credit For Gov. Christie's Decision." "The National Rifle Association quickly took credit for Gov. Christie's decision. 'NRA members did a tremendous job contacting state legislators and the Governor,' reads a statement posted Friday on the website of the National Rifle Association's Institute for Legislative Action. 'Although anti-gun lawmakers ignored constituent messages and in some cases severely restricted public testimony, gun owners prevailed today as the Governor made the right decision on the three most consequential bills.'" [MSNBC, 8/18/13] CHRISTIE HAS CUT SUPPORT FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH DESPITE NEW JERSEY BEING A PRO-CHOICE STATE Christie Vetoed $7.5 Million In Family-Planning Services Funds, His 5th Rejection Altogether That Removed Services For Over 31,000 Female Patients. "That contrasts with what happened three days later, when Christie's office issued a Friday news release to announce that he had quietly vetoed nearly $7.5 million in funding for family-planning services. It was his fifth rejection of such funds during his term, which abortion-rights advocates say has resulted in the closure of six family-planning operations, including two sites in Burlington County and a Planned Parenthood office in Cherry Hill. Because of Christie, they say, the facilities now serve 31,000 fewer female patients statewide." [Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/14/13] Star-Ledger Editorial: Christie De-Funded $7.5 M From Family Planning Clinics, And Vetoed 5 Attempts To Refund It, That Led To A 24% Drop In Patients Since 2009, Six Clinics Closing While Others Cut Back Hours, And 30 Percent Less Criminal Breast Exams. "A group of female legislators is again asking Gov. Chris Christie to restore $7.5 million for women's health that he cut from the state budget. Perfect timing. If the governor vetoes this funding — for the fifth time — what will his argument be now? … As a result, family planning clinics saw at least 33,000 fewer patients last year than in 2009 — a 24 percent drop. The number of clinical breast exams fell more than 30 percent. Six clinics closed, and others had to cut back on hours or increase waiting periods. Fewer regular checkups mean higher health care costs in the future." [Editorial, The Star-Ledger, 6/18/13] Star-Ledger Editorial: A Christie Argument The State Cannot Afford A Program Was Hypocritical After Christie's Decision To "Blow" Millions For "Utterly Selfish Reasons" "On The Special Election — Just Three Weeks Before His General Election." The Star-Ledger wrote about Christie's $7.5 million in cuts to women's health. "We can't afford it? Please. Nobody can forget the millions more he just decided to blow on the special election — just three weeks before his general election — to fill the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg's seat. Christie doesn't want to share the same ballot as Democratic favorite Cory Booker, the Newark mayor who could increase his party's turnout, because Christie wants to win by an even bigger margin to enhance his image for the 2016 presidential campaign. So he's spending $12 million for utterly selfish reasons." [Editorial, The Star-Ledger, 6/18/13] 2011: Two Republicans Said They Would Join Democrats In Reinstating Funding For Women's Health. "State Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-12) said this afternoon that she intends to vote in favor of restoring $7.5 million in women's healthcare funding. Beck also urged her colleagues to vote in favor of the funding championed by state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-37) over repeated vetoes by Gov. Chris Christie. State Sen. Diane Allen (R-7) also said she intends to break in favor of the women's health bill." [PolitickerNJ, 5/23/11] Poll: Overwhelming Number Of New Jerseyans Support Pro-Choice Practices. "A new poll finds opinions on abortion have not changed much in recent years in New Jersey. Gov. Chris Christie brought the issue to the forefront when he spoke at an anti-abortion rally in Trenton in January. A Rutgers-Eagleton Poll released Tuesday shows 10 percent of New Jerseyans surveyed believe abortion should be illegal. Half support keeping abortion legal with restrictions and 37 percent believe abortions should be allowed in all cases. More than half of those polled said Christie's speech didn't affect their opinion of him." [CBS News, 3/15/11] CHRISTIE BRAGGED HE NEVER HAD A VETO OVERRIDE BECAUSE OF THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE Christie Stated He Has Never "Had One Veto Overridden In Three And A Half Years" Because "Of The Strength Of The Republicans I Have In The Legislature." "You know, we haven't had one veto overridden in three and a half years—not one. And that's because of the strength of the Republicans I have in the legislature." [Christie Campaign HQ, 04/27/13] Christie Played Up "The Strength Of The Republicans I Have In The Legislature," As A Result Of The Party's "United Way Because We Believe In The Same Core Principles," Despite Disagreements. At the opening of his Campaign HQ, Christie said: "we have our disagreements between each other. We talk them through it and we come to compromises together. But then when we walk out—when we walk out to the business of the state done, we go out in a united way because we believe in the same core principles. We believe in a smaller government, and lower taxes. We believe in less regulation on business and empowering individuals in this state to reach their full potential, whether that's through a great education or getting the hell out of there way and let them run their businesses the way they want to run them, not [through] the government." [Christie Campaign HQ, 04/27/13] Christie: "Actually I Have to Amend That Last Statement: After June 30th, I Don't Care If They Get Off Their Rear Ends And Do Their Job Anymore. You Know What I Want? I Want A Republican Legislature." [Christie Campaign HQ, 04/27/13] CHRISTIE BROKE TRADITION BY REFUSING TO REAPPOINT A MODERATE JUDGE, IN ORDER TO NOMINATE A CONSERVATIVE JUDGE New York Times Editorial: Christie's Refusal To Renominate Judge John Wallace Was A "Case Of Political Overreach," And Was The First Time Since 1947 When A Judge Seeking Reappointment Was Not Renominated, "No Matter If They Were First Chosen By A Governor Of The Other Party. "When Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey chose not to renominate Justice John Wallace Jr. to the State Supreme Court in May, it was a case of political overreach. The situation is now a national disgrace, thanks to the governor, the State Senate president, Stephen Sweeney, and Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto. The integrity and independence of the court depend on a nonpartisan process for picking justices. From 1947, when the state Constitution was adopted, until this May, every governor has renominated every justice seeking reappointment, no matter if they were first chosen by a governor of the other party. The court is one of the most respected state appeals courts in the country. Governor Christie began a very different chapter when he chose not to renominate Justice Wallace, a sound jurist and political moderate who was the court's only African-American." [Editorial, New York Times, 12/15/10] Christie Bemoaned The "Historically Liberal Court As "Out Of Control" Over The Last Three Decades, Usurping The Roles Of The Governor And The Legislature In Setting Social And Tax Policies." "Speaking to reporters in Trenton, Mr. Christie had only kind words for Justice Wallace, but he described the historically liberal court as "out of control" over the last three decades, usurping the roles of the governor and the Legislature in setting social and tax policies." [New York Times, 5/3/10] New York Times Editorial: "Without Any Basis, The Governor Said That The Justice Had Contributed To "Out Of Control" Activism On The Court." [Editorial, New York Times, 12/15/10]  Associated Press: Justice John Wallace Was A "Moderate Justice." "New Jersey Democrats, furious with Gov. Chris Christie over his decision to replace a moderate justice on the state Supreme Court, vowed Tuesday to not even consider the Republican governor's nominee. Christie created a political firestorm Monday by failing to reappoint Justice John Wallace, the court's only African-American, and nominating Anne Patterson, a white private practice lawyer and fellow Mendham Township resident, as a replacement." [Associated Press, 5/5/10]