newjerseynewsroom.com

BY CHRIS CHRISTIE

ADDRESS TO N.J. MAYORS

As I was travelling down here this morning I was harkening back and for some of you who have been serving as mayors for a significant period of time you will recall this. My first visit as a speaker to the New Jersey Conference of Mayors was in April of 2002. And it was my first significant speech to a large audience as United States Attorney. And in fact, it turned out to be kind of an interesting day because as I was travelling down here, FBI agents raided the home and the office of the Republican frontrunner for the United States Senate, Jim Treffinger.

So it gave a different edge to my remarks that day. It really started the seven years of effort that we made to try to bring more honesty and integrity to government at every level. And I gave, as I recall that day, a pretty direct and candid speech to the mayors which was if you're running your town well, if you're acting within the law and conducting yourself with honestly and integrity, then you're going to have no greater friend than the U.S. attorney. And if you're not, we're coming to get you.

I think you saw over the seven years, that what I said eight years ago at your conference, I meant. And the reason I think that's important for today is because I do think words are important. Words are especially important in our business. Although over time words have begun to be cheapened in the political dialogue in this state, both in terms of their honesty and in terms of their tenor and tone.

And so what I want to start off saying to all of you today is what I say, I mean. I'm not posturing, I'm not positioning. I'm not getting myself into an area where then I can then negotiate off of. I'm telling you today the truth as I see it. And the challenge that lies before each and every one of us. And there will be some in this room who will agree and there will be some who disagree and that will be fine. And I recognize that and that's what words are also used for, debate. Good honest debate of ideas.

And so as we move forward through some very difficult times in New Jersey we have to look - first look where we've been and then look to where we need to go. We're in an extraordinarily difficult time. And I think all of you as well or better than anyone understands the pressures that are on our people - the people who elected us and who represent us. All too often I have people come up to me in this first hundred days on this job - today is a hundred days on this job. And people come to me and say, how are you holding up? I'm like, are you kidding? I'm the Governor of New Jersey, I'm holding up just fine.

I'm much more concerned about the people who elected me, cause their not holding up nearly as well. Unemployment in the state is still the highest in the region at 9.8%. I was in the city of Paterson yesterday with Mayor Torres where his unemployment is nearly double that amount in the city of Paterson. We have amongst the highest marginal income tax rates in the nation. We have the second highest sales tax in America. We have the sixth highest corporate business tax in America. And as you all painfully know, we have the highest property taxes in America.

Now add to that, that in groups like the folks who are represented by building and trades council who I met with this week. The skilled craftsmen and women who have helped to build New Jersey, yet unemployment between 35 and 50%. You have their annuity funds dried up. You have men and women taking money out of their own pockets to try to maintain their health benefits. You have them giving up dental coverage, giving up vision coverage. Literally clawing on, to try to hold on to their homes. I had more than one of the trade union leaders that they have regularly, men and women coming to them and saying - I'm at the end of my rope, I'm going to lose my home.