Embarrassed Christie Orders NJ Beaches to Re-Open for July 4

[babylonsister]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/embarrassed-christie-orders-nj-beaches-to-re-open-for-july-4


8 hours ago
Embarrassed Christie Orders NJ Beaches to Re-Open for July 4
Eduardo Munoz


New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he ordered state parks to reopen for the July 4 holiday as the state government ended its shutdown with a budget deal late Monday. The deal, which came three days late, calls for a $34.7 billion budget with more than $300 million in Democratic spending priorities. Christie said he’d sign it immediately, adding that state workers will get a paid holiday on Tuesday at his request. The budget impasse had threatened to ruin Independence Day for many residents, with state parks and beaches shut down last week when lawmakers were unable to agree on a budget for the new fiscal year. Christie was pictured enjoying one of the beaches closed to the public Monday after a local newspaper caught him lounging with his family in the midst of the government crisis. Christie later defended himself, saying “the governor is allowed to go to his residences.”

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Christie doesn't know how to be embarassed.

BTW, the Legislature did a classic end run around Christie.

It was never about the Budget. Christie claimed he wanted "reform" concerning the state's only non-profit insurance company, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield. What he wanted was $300 of Horizon's surplus (profits) to be applied to New Jersey's coffers. In other words, subscribers of Blue Cross would have had their premiums applied involuntarily and twice to the state's financial reserves, taxed twice.

Nicholas Prieto, head of the NJ Assembly, called Christie's bluff. He independently negotiated with Horizon, got some compromise which didn't include Christie's $300 billion. Now Christie was in a position where he couldn't sign both the budget (that included goodies given to the Democrats) and the Horizon "reform". He could have demanded the $300 billion, because of the beach, it wouldn't have been accepted.

[Squinch]

2. He sure does see the public as his chess pieces in his political game, doesn't he?

Though it's a different form, this move was the same concept as the bridge closure: "I'm going to hold this necessity hostage from everyone until I get what I want."

And the business from this weekend is a necessity for so many people along that shore. He has put a ton of people in a world of financial hurt with this move.

[raging moderate]

3. Did those evicted residents get to return home?

There is an OP here that says six families were kicked out of their homes when this beach closure was put in place.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. He sure as hell wasn't "embarrassed"

In fact he welcomed the scorn. He's a lame duck (as the NJ Democratic legislative leaders noted) and a bully, and really doesn't give a shit.

[GeorgeGist]

5. Correction ...

Embarrassing Christie Orders NJ Beaches to Reopen for July 4

[Hieronymus]

6. What an ass. He probably thinks he still has a future in politics.