Gov. Chris Christie, “The Comeback Kid,” has shown substantial wear and tear. With his followers’ eyes focused on the 2016 presidency, there is creeping evidence the dynamics of politics has altered the potential goals being sought. New Jersey’s clouded revenue picture would indicate that all is not well for a stab by the governor at a 2016 presidency race.
Hovering close to a state double digit unemployment report, “The Comeback Kid” appears to be fading. The trials and tribulations for the governor began with the bond rating agency Standard and Poor’s shifting New Jersey’s debt outlook from “stable” to “negative” and having its rating dropped a notch. S&P said the state’s structural debt and improbable goals were the reasons for taking the action.
The threat of the governor to veto any increase in the minimum wage sets a losing strategy for an election campaign. He has also threatened a veto for all spending bills if Trenton fails to pass his 10 percent tax cut for high dollar residents. Revenue numbers showed New Jersey is missing its goals by $100 million. State revenues must grow more than 8 percent to reach any forecasted budget. The “Comeback Kid”? I don’t think so.
Herbert Resnick
Marlboro