Archive: February, 2013
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
For my full story in Wednesday's paper, click here.
In a year in which he will go before Democratic-leaning voters for re-election, a combative Gov. Christie offered a largely non-controversial $32.9 billion budget this afternoon that accepts a key provision of Obamacare, abandons his proposal for an income tax cut and slightly boosts funding for education.
"Fiscal sanity has indeed returned to Trenton," Christie said in front of a joint session of the Legislature. He touted that his budget is lower than the 2008 budget signed by former Gov. Jon Corzine.
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
Another big speech, another big promo video.
(Or as some Democrats will undoubtedly crow, another taxpayer-funded campaign ad.)
Christie lays out his election-year budget plan in a 3 p.m. speech today, and as he often does before major addresses he has released a slick new video depicting him rocking the Sandy fleece, visiting an old man in the hospital, hanging out with kids, laughing with an old lady at her kitchen table, shaking hands with a doctor and looking downright gubernatorial.
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
In Monday's paper, my story on the politics of climate change and Superstorm Sunday. Here it is:
Did global warming and rising sea levels trigger Hurricane Sandy?
And does it matter?
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder worth more dough than all of us combined (and then some), opened his home last night for a Christie For Governor fundraiser that marked the tech titan's first foray into partisan politics. Zuckberberg and Christie became boys back in 2010, when Zuckerberg made a $100 million matching grant to Newark schools, and they have since become texting and one-time sleep-over buddies.
Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice stopped by, perhaps hoping to get on the short list for veep if Christie lands the GOP nomination in 2016. As did Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, and a bunch of other important Silicon Valley types. Bloomberg News reported that "black sedans mixed with the occasional Maserati, Ferrari, BMW and Mercedes" dropped off attendees..."Attire was mixed, with Rice in a yellow jacket, black top and gold necklace, while a man in a black Audi came in jeans and a hoodie."
The event capped Christie's three-day gold rush to California. Untold dollars were raised, but $3,800-per-person is the max. (Although Republicans are exploiting a loophole for more money, as the Bergen Record reported today.)
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
Do you think Gov. Christie a tax-and-spend liberal? Now you have an alternative. An Atlantic County lawyer is running as a right-wing alternative to Christie in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
Former Atlantic City councilman and freeholder Seth Grossman announced today that he's running for governor. He made the announcement in front of the Revel Casino, the struggling beacon on Atlantic City's skyline that Christie has supported with tax breaks.
In a statement, Grossman said that Christie's "bailout Republicans are as bad as big union Democrats like former Gov. Jon Corzine.“ He said that voters simply don't know what Christie is doing to the state.
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
State Sen. Barbara Buono (D., Middlesex), the main Democratic challenger against Gov. Christie, suffered a cut to her forehead after a car accident last night in Central Jersey, her campaign said.
An aide was driving and Buono was in the back seat when her vehicle collided with an oncoming car as it was turning on a road in Franklin Township. The incident happened about 8 p.m., according to campaign spokesman David Turner, and neither driver was hurt.
Buono was not wearing a seat belt.
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
Gov. Christie opened the week by splitting a jelly donut with David Letterman in a well-received "Late Show" bit that mixed discussion of Sandy recovery with some good-natured poking fun at his girth.
He ended it, apparently, by yelling at the former White House doctor who told CNN that she worried about the governor's health.
Dr. Connie Mariano had said that she was concerned that Christie would die of a stroke or heart attack, complicating any presidential ambitions.
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
SEA BRIGHT — Gov. Christie called questions about the performance history of a company drafting a plan to spend billions in Sandy relief money “ridiculous stuff that’s just meant to inflame.”
Christie, speaking at a firehouse on the Jersey Shore alongside an Obama cabinet official, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, said that he had confidence in the bidding process that led to his administration’s selection of the Massachusetts-based company, CDM Smith.
My article Wednesday highlighted the fact that CDM was fired last year for botching its rebuilding contract in Galveston, Tex., in the wake of Hurricane Ike. Christie said that was just one contract in one place, and after a competitive bidding process against five other companies and involving checks on references, the state Department of Community Affairs correctly selected the "experts" at CDM.
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
Here's my story in today's paper on a new firm hired by Gov. Christie to handle Sandy recovery:
To devise a plan to distribute billions in federal money for Sandy relief, the Christie administration hired a company fired for poor management under a similar contract in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008.
"It was a complete nightmare," said Steve Greenberg, a former councilman in Galveston, Texas, who said CDM Smith failed to pay subcontractors and to deliver on its promises of home construction after the storm.
Matt Katz, Inquirer Staff Writer
UNION BEACH - In his first Sandy-related salvo against the Obama administration, Gov. Christie slammed the National Flood Insurance Program today, saying that the pace of its payouts to victims of Sandy has "stunk."
During a news conference in this small community on the Raritan Bay that was ravaged by Sandy, Christie said that 30 percent of flood insurance claims, which are paid by the federal government, have been resolved, compared to 85 percent of homeowners' insurance claims, which are paid directly by insurance companies.
"I've been as patient as I'm going to be...and now I'm going to turn my special brand of love and affection on the National Flood Insurance plan," Christie said. Behind-the-scenes assurances from officials with the program, which is operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, "haven't been met."
Reach him at mkatz@phillynews.com or 609-217-8355.
Follow Matt on Twitter: @mattkatz00. Reach Matt at mkatz@phillynews.com or 609-217-8355.
