Christie Returns To New Jersey From Campaign Trail For State Of State Speech
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Gov. Chris Christie turned his attention from the Republican presidential campaign trail to New Jersey for the annual state of the state address.
As CBS2's Christine Sloan reported, Christie bashed President Obama during the speech, but stayed Jersey-centric.
Tuesday's speech -- Christie's first such address since officially becoming a presidential candidate -- came as his campaign gained steam in the first-to-vote primary state of New Hampshire, where the governor has picked up key endorsements, risen in the polls and become the focus of sharp attacks from rival camps.
The governor touted what he called accomplishments, some say to a national audience, including cutting crime and taxes and making sure roads are safe. He also focused on jobs.
"New Jersey has pulled from the economic brink," he said.
New Jersey's unemployment rate has fallen to 5.3 percent from 9.8 percent when Christie took office in 2010. Christie has also repeatedly highlighted that the state's private sector added about 224,000 jobs since he was first inaugurated.
Christie has used the data to paint a picture of his tenure as a reformer whose policies helped the state recover despite an adversarial Legislature.
"In 2015 I made it clear that I would stand against any income tax increases,'' Christie said in a tweet previewing the speech and highlighting his veto of Democratic proposals to increase taxes.
But Christie also addressed a Democrat-controlled Legislature that added four seats in November's election, as his approval rating in New Jersey dips to its lowest point. Democratic rivals are jockeying for the gubernatorial election in 2017, hammering Christie and positioning their own records to contrast with his.
At the beginning of his speech, Christie pointed to growth in education and jobs, reduction in crime and developments in the real estate market.
"And one of the achievements that I'm proudest of – we've helped thousands of people whose lives have been devastated by drugs to get the help they need," Christie said.
And with that, the governor also touted his leadership, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
"We've shown what it means to achieve policies of consequence. Policies of principal. And yes, policies of compromise," Christie said.
Christie also touted the state government for tackling issues "head on."
"For the last six years, we've done something different in New Jersey," Christie said. "A lot of people in this room have shown the courage to set aside partisan differences and achieve real progress. To all those who have chosen to reach out across the aisle – thank you. Thank you for everything you've done for our state."
In years past, Christie has touted his ability to work with Democrats to get things done, but Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, doesn't expect that this year.
"It's going to be less about how he reached across the aisle to shake hands," Murray told Haskell. "It's more going to be about how he reached across the aisle to smack the Democrats down."
Christie spoke out against proposed legislation on requiring the state to increase payments towards public pensions -- an action lawmakers moved forward on Monday.
The governor introduced several new state initiatives meant to provide treatment and services for those struggling with drug addiction, as well as the expansion of one existing intervention program into other counties throughout the state. Christie also proposed re-opening the closed Mid-State Correctional Facility as a "fully dedicated, certified drug abuse treatment facility for New Jersey prison inmates."
"The victims of addiction deserve treatment, whether they're in the community or incarcerated. If we can break the cycle of addiction anywhere, we should break it," Christie said.
He also proposed increasing reimbursement and Medicaid rates for mental health and substance abuse services by more than $100 million. Service providers treating the uninsured and poor in the state say they've been waiting several years for the increases.
Christie has made treating drug addiction as an illness a top priority in his time in office. His work in the area has also been a big part of his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.
"We can do better by remembering who gave us these jobs – not the campaign contributors, not the folks who occupy the palaces on State Street -- the everyday heroes of New Jersey life," Christie said in his closing remarks. "...We can do that by putting ourselves in their shoes; not be putting ourselves deeper in their pockets and their lives."
But a group watching at a restaurant in Clark were not sure if the governor lives in their New Jersey.
"Get his entourage to come see how horrendous these roads are. It's so congested with all the construction that he's doing, nothing is finished," Cynthia Day said.
"Believe he's done some good things int he state, but I wish he would stay in the state. I don't governors leaving the state and running for president," Alan Constantine said.
The address came as his poll numbers continued to drop in the state and nationally.
"His poll numbers are really low. He's polling at 31 percent approval, 59 percent disapproval," Peter Woolley, FDU Pollsters said.
The pollster blamed the numbers on Bridgegate, but the governor said he doesn't pay attention to polls or naysayers who once said he couldn't be governor.
The governor also said he plans on helping charter schools regulatory relief so they can find facilities to teach in.
Christie's public schedule has him returning to New Hampshire Wednesday morning for a town hall there.
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