New Illinois Governor Slams New Jersey Despite Strong Support From Christie
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The new Republican Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner had some harsh words for New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie recently, saying Christie's state was "lost" and "going down the drain."
Rauner said New Jersey said during an Illinois Farm Bureau conference last week that New Jersey was "lost." He said Illinois has the highest property taxes in America after New Jersey, and he doesn't want to compete with New Jersey on anything -- especially that.
He said the situation in New Jersey is a disaster.
``They're going down the drain, and they ain't turning it around," Rauner said of New Jersey.
Rauner defeated Democratic incumbent Pat Quinn in November, and Christie campaigned hard for Rauner's election.
As chairman of the Republican Governors' Association, Christie funneled $2.5 million into the Rauner campaign last summer – and made multiple high-profile appearances with Rauner on the campaign trail.
"The RGA is completely engaged as an organization, and I'm completely engaged both as the chairman and as the governor of New Jersey to bring the kind of change we need here to Illinois," Christie said in a Chicago appearance with Rauner in July, which was covered by WBBM-TV, CBS2 Chicago. "Bruce is the right guy to do it, I'm excited about his candidacy, and we're going to win on November 4."
As recently as January, Christie was doing a "victory lap" with Rauner and other Republican governors.
Spokesmen for Rauner and Christie haven't returned messages left Monday seeking comment.
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