Panelists uncertain of Christie's policies, plans

A day after Governor-elect Chris Christie defeated Gov. Jon S. Corzine for the gubernatorial seat, the Eagleton Institute of Politics played host to panelists who analyzed the outcome of this year’s election and what the results mean for New Jersey.
All four panelists agreed the future of the state is uncertain under the Christie administration.
“Christie campaigned on an anti-Corzine [platform]. There was a lot of anything-but-Corzine sentiment out there,” said Associated Press State House reporter Angela Delli Santi said. “We don’t have a lot of specifics on Chris Christie. We don’t know how he’s going to tackle some of these fiscal problems. We don’t know what his administration is going to look like.”
Political columnist for the Star-Ledger Tom Moran said the state of the economy would influence Christie’s time in office.
Regardless of Christie’s intentions for New Jersey, everything depends on whether the state economy rises or not, he said.
“Christie made a big deal about one of his top priorities where he said he would like to spend more on higher education. On the other hand we’re facing an unprecedented difficult time period,” Moran said.
Christie’s promises to not raise taxes might be compromised if he intends to improve government organizations such as public higher education, he said.
Moran said Gov. Jon S. Corzine was defeated because of his performance in office.
“The general consensus on [Corzine] from people I speak to is he’s a well intentioned man, but really a terrible politician … He kept trying to do the right thing, but he kept stumbling,” Moran said.
Gordon MacInnes, a fellow at the Century Foundation, shared similar views with Moran and said Corzine’s lack of aggressive political leadership led to his inability to fix problems in New Jersey.
As a one-year member of the Corzine administration, MacInnes often witnessed Corzine submit to the legislative leadership of the state.
“I don’t think Gov. Corzine understood the political side [to his leadership]. I think he assumed there were a set of rules that you play by … that are set by the people you deal with,” he said. “The governor is the leader … The governor has got to set the agenda, particularly in perilous times.”
In terms of the election, MacInnes believes Corzine created voter apathy by suggesting the Democratic majority of voters would break the tie between him and Christie, and carry him back into office.
Corzine had many incumbent advantages in this election but still managed to lose, Delli Santi said. Christie’s victory was referendum on the Obama administration and there was a deep voter discontent that Republicans tapped into.
“[President Barack] Obama came in and raised the stakes of this election, calling Jon Corzine a partner and his friend, and asking people to give the same commitment to Corzine that they gave to him last year, but it didn’t work,” Delli Santi said.
A major factor contributing to Corzine’s loss was the amount of campaign spending, said Bergen County Clerk Kathleen Donovan. The election’s playing field was leveled out when the Democrats spent much less money on campaigning.
“New Jersey is not just a Democrat state. If the playing field is even, you’re going to see a greater mix of Republicans and Democrats,” Donovan said.
Students are uncertain of what to expect from Christie and his plans for higher education.
 “In spite of his leanings, I have a feeling he’s going to have to come to the center on some things, because he’s working with a democratic legislature in a state that tends to lean democratic,” said Caryn Miller, a School of Arts and Sciences junior.
Miller remains a little concerned for the future considering the new mix of Republican and Democratic interests in New Jersey, but is certain that whatever happens will be for the betterment of the state.
“Under Corzine I know we weren’t going in the right direction anyway because of [the] plenty of budget cuts he was planning,” said Zaid Abuhouran, president of Rutgers Young Americans for Liberty.
Abuhouran, a School of Environmental and Biological Sciences sophomore, knows Christie’s aims to not raise taxes will leave less money for other state organizations, but he believes the Governor-elect will ultimately find a way to improve higher education.

Comments

3 comments

Your name

Thu Nov 5 2009 20:46

It always amuses me the way people hate gov. intervention, until they need it. I suppose we should get rid of Medicare and Social Security and pensions while we're at it. Why not shove the elderly and indigent onto the streets or better yet just euthanize them. How sad that we would elect a man who couldn't give any specifics.

Sick of corruption

Thu Nov 5 2009 11:25

Of course Christie couldn't give specifics. Until you get in there and start looking at things, a candidate can only speculate what needs to be changed. Corzine did nothing but put this state in ruins and took more and more money from the taxpayers and offered no solutions. He took the right for a secret ballot away from administrators at Rutgers and sided with a union. Corzine was not a well intended guy in my opinon and I am very happy to see him go. Government IS the problem. There are NO free rides. Every benefit you get from the govenment comes from someone's pocket.

DB

Thu Nov 5 2009 00:08

Let's hope that this will finally prove a reversal of the Corzine cuts to higher education. As for where the money can come from, he can cut the over-funded K-12 schools, where billions of dollars are spent that just go to administration and has no effect on the classroom. Eliminate high-paying positions in Trenton that don't really do anything. Legalize marijuana so it can bring in sales tax revenue. With lower taxes and regulation on businesses, the state will attract more business owners and wealthy residents, which will drive up tax revenue even if the tax rates stay the same. We don't need higher taxes; I believe with more prudent spending of money, he can find the money for higher education despite the economic crisis.

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