Gov. Christie Argues With Teacher Over Exxon Mobil Settlement During Town Hall Meeting

KENILWORTH, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Gov. Chris Christie's town hall meeting in Kenilworth Tuesday saw a heated exchange between the governor and a public school teacher over pensions as well as frequent outbursts from protesters.

Christie has been holding town hall meetings across the state each week, pushing his proposal to further reform New Jersey's public worker health care and pension system. The governor argues a previous deal did not go far enough.

It wasn't long before the town hall took a heated turn. Christie's second question came from a woman who identified herself as a teacher of 27 years. The woman said she felt Christie's approach favored the affluent and questioned the size of a settlement the state reached with Exxon Mobil Corp. over environmental damage.

The governor immediately pushed back against the teacher's claims that the state could have gotten more from the settlement.

"Do you know that?'' he asked her. "I want to know how you know that.''

The exchange went on for nearly 15 minutes. At one point, the woman told Christie "I'm not here to be bullied.''

"You're not being bullied because you're asking me questions; I get to ask some questions back,'' Christie responded. "If you're going to make an assertion of fact as a teacher, who people in the community respect as a truth teller, then I'd like to get to know where you get your information.''

Christie has repeatedly defended the deal with Exxon Mobil, saying the $225 million settlement does not include all of the cash the company will have to pay to clean up the damaged sites. Those costs, Christie added, have no cap.

The governor also said without dramatic changes the state workers' pension system will have nothing left to pay teachers down the line.

The town hall meeting was also interrupted several times by residents protesting over Christie's positions on immigration and other issues.

Members of the group New Jersey Communities United chanted "Arrest Christie," after sounding a whistle. Another women held a sign that said "Keep families together."

The protesters were removed from the Harding Elementary School auditorium by security.

The event also so some lighter moments. At one point, a little girl in a Brownie Girl Scout uniform asked Christie to name his favorite dessert.

Christie had joked earlier that while on the "Tonight Show," Jimmy Fallon had warned the shrinking governor never to talk about desserts or risk being mocked.

"I want everybody to tune in tomorrow night to the live `Tonight Show' to get the answer to this question and how Fallon will make fun of me because of this,'' he said.

The answer: ice cream.

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