'Jon Corzine' Becomes GOP Campaign Fodder In New Jersey
TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Chris Christie may be thinking the upcoming governor's race will come down to a choice between him and Jon Corzine.
Though the former Democratic governor doesn't even live in New Jersey anymore, Christie keeps bringing up the name of the opponent he unseated in 2009.
The governor referred to a prior Democratic budget as the "Corzine-Buono budget" on Monday night's "Ask the Governor" program on Townsquare Media.
On Tuesday, the Republican State Committee announced a new website, called corzinedemocrats.com.
The site features a photo of Corzine with Sen. Barbara Buono, who is running against Christie in November.
There's also a countdown clock that ticks off the amount of time "Corzine Democrats" don't act on Christie's proposed tax cut.
Corzine is being sued for his dealings with MF Global Holdings.
Christie held his 106th town hall meeting in Bergenfield on Tuesday, where he continued his push for a 10-percent tax cut proposal, currently being blocked by so-called "Corzine Democrat" legislators.
"If they don't pass this tax cut in the next 68 days, then you know what they were doing all along. They were lying to you," Christie told reporters, including WCBS 880's Peter Haskell.
Christie Challenges Democrats Who Oppose Tax Cut Proposal
Democrats claim revenue projections are overstated and that the state cannot afford a tax cut. Speaking in Bergenfield on Tuesday, Christie discussed a resolution that could give Democrats an out.
"If you don't think the money's there, vote for it and there's not a damn thing I could do about it. The tax cut will stop in its tracks," Christie said, seemingly challenging Democratic lawmakers. "If you believe the revenues aren't there to pay for a tax cut at any time over the next four years, you can pass a resolution, both houses, that doesn't require my signature that stops the tax cut."
Christie's plan would allow an income tax credit of 10 percent of property taxes, up to $10,000.
Also Tuesday, Christie failed to win an endorsement from a major environmental group that backed him four years ago.
The New Jersey Environmental Federation announced its support for state Sen. Buono's candidacy during a news conference in Bayonne.
Group members said Christie has failed to keep most of the promises he made regarding environmental issues during his 2009 campaign. He was the first Republican the federation had ever endorsed.
Speaking at the news conference, Buono said she was happy to receive the group's endorsement.
"We have a governor whose policies reflect his belief that we have to actually choose between strengthening our economy and being stewards of our environment,'' she said. "And we know that we can do both of them. We know we have to do both of them.''
Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Christie's re-election campaign, disputed claims that Christie has a poor record on environment matters. He said the governor "has a strong and undeniable record of taking action to protect New Jersey's environment, now and for future generations.''
Roberts also noted that the Christie administration has put in place policies "that are actually effective in moving towards cleaner and sustainable energy production for the state. We're creating jobs and protecting the environment at the same time.''
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