In recent weeks, the prevailing buzz surrounding New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has revolved around whether or not he would run for the Republican nomination for president.
Little is known nationally about the first-term governor, but some poll numbers suggest he might have a shot at securing the nomination in what has become a wide-open Republican field.
His situation is somewhat reminiscent of our own beloved governor in 2009. With an opportunity to expand his political profile, Bobby Jindal opened his response to Barack Obama’s State of the Union address with “Happy Mardi Gras!” and otherwise did all he could to torpedo his nascent national political ambitions.
Christie officially declared Tuesday he would not run for president, ending months of speculation. Christie cited his responsibility to the state that elected him in 2009.
Appropriately, Christie was not so consumed by his potential presidential campaign to forgo governing his own state in the interim.
Christie vetoed a $420,000 tax credit Sept. 26 for the MTV show “Jersey “Snooki Subsidy” was approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the rationale being that it fuels New Jersey’s important tourism industry.
“As chief executive I am duty bound to ensure that taxpayers are not footing a $420,000 bill for a project which does nothing more than perpetuate misconceptions about the state and its citizens,” Christie said in his pointed criticism of the credit.
In our modern American political understanding, tax credits are a go-to, stalwart policy for Republican legislators. At times, these tax credits truly do create jobs and stimulate the economy, which is their stated purpose.
Often, both sides of the aisle use these tax breaks to patronize corporations or initiatives that have enriched them or their campaigns.
I do not think this is the case with the