UPDATED: Assembly members, including Assemblywoman Joan Quigley (D-Bergen/Hudson), who sponsored the law authorizing the purchase of two new State Police helicopters primarily for homeland security and other emergency purposes, today called Governor Christie’s use of this fleet for personal and political reasons a serious abuse of taxpayer dollars.
“The purchase of these new helicopters was designed to replace our aging fleet primarily for critical homeland security activities and medical emergencies and, when necessary, to transport governors safely and swiftly to important state business. To use these vehicles to shuttle between both a personal and a political activity is an outright abuse of taxpayer dollars”.
The Governor yesterday used a State Police Helicopter to fly to his son’s baseball game.
“I’m sure every resident of this state would love to have access to these helicopters when they’re stuck in traffic on the Turnpike or Parkway and missing an important appointment. Sadly, we don’t all have that luxury”.
“This is yet another example of the Governor’s pattern of putting himself before the taxpayers, much like when he fled the state hours before a raging blizzard while residents remained snowed in for days”.
“If the Governor truly cares about protecting taxpayers’ dollars, then he will reimburse them for this latest abuse on his part,” said Quigley. TLS.
UPDATE: State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes released a statement today arguing that the flights don’t cost the taxpayer anything. He said the the time that the pilots fly the Governor, is counted as training time. Additionally, that the security of the Governor -be it business or personal – is his full time responsibility.
Let the Governor has his privileges!!!
then obama better reimburse the nation for all of his oprah appearances, and vacations(more than any other president to date)
….gotta love crying liberals.
COUGH..COUGH (Joan Quigley Democrat)
You liberals are such hypocrites Obama flies all over the world for vacation for awards to visit Ireland etc. Don’t for get Queen Pelsoi flying her airforce plane across country hundreds if not thousands of times and her family. You liberals are one who steal and spend our money.
Here’s the thing- this governor is screaming about cutting costs and dealing with difficult cuts, living within our means, etc. Meanwhile he’s using a police chopper to attend his child’s baseball game, then meet with investors trying to convince him to run for another office- not official state business.
He should be walking the walk.
If you want to turn this into a republican/democrat thing, Corzine always reimbursed the state, or rented a private helicopter himself. How about Christie does the same?
A helicoptor on tax payers money for personal use is not a right! Government employees loss their jobs, pensions, and sometimes go to jail over using work related privilages for personal use. Why is he any different?
Thats just some of the money Christie can say the state doesn’t have for the public employees. He only thinks about himself and will find a lie to tell like all bullies do. This poor country if he runs for President.
good point
Unbelievable maybe the next time I go to my sons games, I should drive to the field in a firetruck, police car or ambulance.
This govenor should be thrown out of office, what (moderated) does he have to do this. Thank god I didn’t vote for him.
with all do respect Mr. Governer. I’d like an explination please.
To numbers 4 and 5, i second the good point”
Good point jd, the gov has no right to use tax payers money to go to a baseball game. he should be ashamed of himself. But he will keep doing this kind of stuff, while taking money from the poor people andmedicaid and other things, while the rich get richer….He needs to go!!
i dont care who you are if you were gov i know for a fact if you had a chance you would use the chopper cuz i know i would but i woulld not abuse it… so i dont see a prob with this… i mean look at the PREZ!!!!
Get a life!
he should be thrown out bec he went for a ride ? Listen to yourselves, compared to everyone else he is doing quite well aside for the fact that he didn’t raise taxes while everyone else wanted do, so he went for a ride, you should be thanking him instead of complaining. On a side note perhaps state police required him to do so, for safety reasons.
How much $ we talking here?