newjerseynewsroom.com

Gov. Christie ditches promised transparency and attacks those who question his hidden agenda

BY JOHN WISNIEWSKI

COMMENTARY

Governor Chris Christie promised New Jersey open and transparent government. In his first cabinet meeting, he laid down the ground rules:

"Folks in this state have a right to know what we're doing in their name every day.”

But apparently those rules don’t apply to the governor. Days after being forced to answer questions over the discovery of a secret trip to address a group convened in Colorado by the right-wing Koch brothers, a gathering secret enough that static noise was reportedly blasted out at venue perimeters to discourage eavesdropping, Christie is now telling reporters who question him to get a life: "I go a lot of places without telling you."

Christie was pressed by host Eric Scott, of NJ 101.5, on his "Ask the Governor" show about keeping his actions secret and claiming the time was personal. In response, the Governor tried to justify his secrecy by comparing his speech before billionaires looking to influence policy, to dinner in New York or attending a Delaware football game, saying it was no different. Christie is rapidly running away from the rule he says he runs his administration by - transparency - in order to conceal his movements and what they might mean for New Jersey policy.

Earlier this year, it was discovered that Christie held a meeting with Roger Ailes, head of one of the most powerful television news networks in America. It was not on his schedule and he later claimed it was for private consultations because Ailes was a confidential advisor. The governor should stop hiding his actions from the public.