N.J. Gov. Chris Christie today shrugged off Saturday’s record-breaking Statehouse protest, saying it had “absolutely no effect on me.” The Republican governor said he hoped the 30,000 to 35,000 protesters “had a good time, and I hope that it helped to spur Trenton’s economy.” The crowd, mostly from public worker unions and other progressive groups, flooded the capital on Saturday to rally against Christie’s proposed budget cuts and property tax proposals. Speakers, including New Jersey Education Association president Barbara Keshishian, said the protest was also a warning to Democrats — who have traditionally received backing from organized labor — not to serve as Christie’s “accomplices.”
Asked about the warning, Christie said “good try” and disappeared into his office without taking further questions.
The protesters said they objected to Christie’s proposed $29.3 billion budget because it contains cuts affecting the poor and middle-class, while at the same time the governor has vetoed a tax increase on millionaires. They also vented their anger over recent pension and benefit reforms — which passed the Legislature with bipartisan support — and Christie’s proposed 33-bill “toolkit” for local governments to control costs. Union leaders called the toolkit a “smokescreen” that would harm their collective bargaining rights and lead to mass layoffs of police, firefighters and teachers.
“We are experiencing the most severe, pervasive and sustained attack on public employees, public employee unions and public sector collective bargaining” since workers got the right to organize, Chris Shelton, a vice president with the Communications Workers of America, said Saturday.
“We are saying loud and clear to those folks in the Statehouse — whether they are sitting in the governor’s office or the Legislature — we are fed up, and we are not going to take it anymore.”
Few Democrats — who control both houses of the Legislature — were in attendance on Saturday. They said organizers had not invited them.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), an ironworkers union official, said union leaders are doing their members a disservice through boisterous protests.
“Instead of showing the public that we’re in it together, they’re showing them that they still don’t get it,” Sweeney said Saturday. “We’re not accomplices. If anything, we’re trying to fix the state with him.”
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) said Democrats had not “walked away from” organized labor, or “any constituency in this state.” She said their support of the millionaires tax to restore property tax rebates for senior citizens demonstrates the party is not complicit with Christie’s agenda.
“We all understand that we have a serious fiscal problem in this state,” said Oliver, who like Sweeney did not attend the rally. “People are very concerned about the policy direction that the governor is taking. It is not just those who have narrow interests because they are public employees.”
While many doubted the governor would listen, protesters said they had to send a message.
“I feel that he needs to know that he’s single-handedly being a bully,” Peter Harrington, a Sussex County resident and teacher at West Orange High School, said Saturday.
“He should have sat down and talked with us. You can’t dictate education.” Star Ledger
I wonder if he will say “absolutely no effect on me” regarding 35,000 residents, when election time rolls around…
He was elected to do this job
so why should he care about 35000 pepole that did not vote for him?
they never approved of him
He shouldn’t listen to the unions and their protests.But he should validate their feelings by something like.The rally indicates how strongly the cuts will hurt will affect people.But unfortunately the state of New Jersey still does not have the money for the unions and their demands are not realistic.Lets hope they come up with a solution that will benefit all.
to #2
Christie should care about the 35,000 people that showed up because they represent the 66% of the people of NJ that current approval ratings indicate do not approve of his actions.
If Christie doesn’t make the cuts now, NJ will turn into another Greece, just as California and NY and other liberal states are going to turn into another Greece in the years ahead. At that point we will have hundreds of thousands protesting and shutting down the state, but it will still be necessary to make those cuts at some point.
Better now than later, when things will get worse.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the current fiscal policies are unsustainable. What that means in plain English, is that at some point those cuts are coming. Either now, or later. But if we wait till later, the cuts will be much more severe.
Better now.
Christie, don’t stop. The people are behind you. The honest G-d fearing, tax paying citizens are with you all the way. Don’t mind the unions, who didn’t vote for you anyway. And may G-d be with you as you restore some sanity to the state’s finances.
I feel your pain. Now that felt good, now please feel taxpayer’s pain.
Thank you.
It’s “effect” not “affect.” Will this inflammatory comment be left “awaiting moderation” for a couple of days?