NJ Watchdog: Taxpayers penalized as Christie cheers for Cowboys

For immediate release:

It’s no longer a secret that Chris Christie’s free rides to Dallas Cowboys football games are paid by team owner Jerry Jones. The real mystery is how much more the governor’s gridiron follies cost New Jersey taxpayers.

In the aftermath of the nationally-televised appearance at Sunday’s NFL playoff game in Dallas against the Detroit Lions, the governor’s staff acknowledged Jones paid for the tickets and a private charter jet for Christie, his wife and four children – and footed the bill for at least two other gubernatorial outings at Cowboys games this season.

“Gov. Christie attended the game last night as a guest of Jerry Jones, who provided both the ticket and the transportation at no expense to New Jersey taxpayers,” spokesman Kevin Roberts said Monday.

But what about the travel bills and overtime pay for the New Jersey State Police troopers assigned to follow and protect Christie wherever he goes? And how much do the governor’s travels – official and unofficial, business and pleasure – really cost taxpayers?

Believe it or not, Christie’s staff and the state police say they don’t keep track of the Executive Protection Unit's expenses – and therefore, they say they have no detailed records to release.

The complete story is now online at http://watchdog.org/190957/nj-christie-cowboys/.