Christie: Expect states across the nation to follow Wisconsin on public-sector costs
posted at 3:35 pm on February 23, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
Why? Not because it’s some sort of national Republican conspiracy, Chris Christie explained on the Today show this morning. Christie points out that newly-elected Democratic governors like Jerry Brown in California and Andrew Cuomo in New York are having to face the reality of enormous budget shortfalls created by ridiculous pension obligations and spineless politicians who couldn’t say no to unions when it counted. Christie misses an opportunity to explain why confronting public-sector costs has become mainly (but not exclusively) a GOP effort, however. The reason why Republicans have been more aggressive in dealing with the problem is because more Republicans got elected to lead the states in 2010, both as executives and in control of legislatures, by voters who finally realize that their states are teetering on the abyss of bankruptcy and failure:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The NBC interviewer tries to pass off the pension bomb as a problem created by Wall Street and the economic collapse, but Christie deflates that argument rather quickly. When state pensions start paying six figures to former workers, in many cases in systems completely financed by taxpayers rather than the workers themselves, the problem didn’t just start in 2008.
In one state where voters failed to put Republicans in charge, Democratic plans to pass off the problem to the federal government literally had House GOP leadership laughing (via Newsalert):
The No. 4 House Republican in Congress Tuesday shot down Gov. Quinn’s trial balloon of possibly seeking federal help to ease the state’s crushing $86 billion pension shortfall.
Quinn floated the idea in the fine print of his 2012 budget proposal last week, but U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) began laughing Tuesday when asked about the chances of a federal pension bailout for Illinois and other states with retirement systems that are financially underwater.
“There is no appetite in the House for a federal guarantee for a state pension obligation. None. It’s a non-starter,” said Roskam, the U.S. House’s chief deputy whip and highest-ranking Republican in Illinois’ congressional delegation.
“Given the types of choices Congress is under right now and the budget-cutting pressure that moved $100 billion in cuts, there’s no way this House will take on any more obligations, particularly bailing states out of decisions they’ve made,” the Wheaton Republican told the Sun-Times.
That’s one reason why voters entrusted a record number of state-legislature seats to the GOP in 2010. Republicans campaigned on the necessity of confronting these hard economic choices, while Democrats like Pat Quinn want nothing but more federal bailouts to avoid the responsibility of fiscal prioritization.
By the way, be sure to watch the Christie interview to its conclusion. After the obligatory discussion of presidential aspirations, in which Christie shoots down the rumor that he was forming a federal PAC to test the waters, the interviewer tries to get Christie to disclose how much weight he’s lost in his efforts to trim down. He refuses to give specifics, but says he’s a lot like … New Jersey. Stick around through the 4:30 mark to find out how.
Blowback
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Not if Sheppie-Poo Smith and Juan “once a greasy lib, always a greasy lib” Williams have their way….
MrScribbler on February 23, 2011 at 3:37 PM
Christie’s right about Cuomo, who sees the writing on the wall.
I think he’s wrong about Moonbeam, though, as Moonbeam will figure that someone else will bail him out and make it all better.
teke184 on February 23, 2011 at 3:37 PM
What a great job by Quinn. Jacking up taxes and praying for a federal bailout. Why do I get the feeling Illinois is about to go the way of Detroit?
Doughboy on February 23, 2011 at 3:38 PM
So the alphabet media is still pimpin’ Christie, eh?
pugwriter on February 23, 2011 at 3:39 PM
Good for you Pete
Laugh in their faces
Own it dems, own it
cmsinaz on February 23, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Faster, please.
teke184 on February 23, 2011 at 3:41 PM
http://conservativenewjersey.com/the-myth-of-christie-conservatism-part-1
steebo77 on February 23, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Not to worry, ObamaSquads are out in force across the country. He made sure of that now, dint he?
Key West Reader on February 23, 2011 at 3:41 PM
Rahm’s victory yesterday sealed the deal.
portlandon on February 23, 2011 at 3:42 PM
We need to suffer some real pain here in California before Brown will do anything meaningful against the interests of the public employee unions.
GaltBlvnAtty on February 23, 2011 at 3:44 PM
Really? Really?
nickj116 on February 23, 2011 at 3:46 PM
Was Curry obvious or what? Trying to pin everything on Wall Street.
darwin on February 23, 2011 at 3:49 PM
Libtard flyover state of Illinois. Sometimes there are worst places in this country besides California.
Apologetic California on February 23, 2011 at 3:49 PM
Dude is a great interview. A little overweight but light on his feet. I fantasize a bit about him debating Scooter on national TV.
a capella on February 23, 2011 at 3:53 PM
Illinois, Taxachusetts, and Rhode Island are all up there.
Cali just gets more notice because they insist that whatever they do is a Big Important Thing.
teke184 on February 23, 2011 at 3:53 PM
There are about 12.8 million people in Illinois. Each of them is on the hook for nearly $7000. And that’s today. Think that number’s gonna go up when the bills come due?
Mr. D on February 23, 2011 at 3:53 PM
I had to turn it off. Shep Smith tried to work “union busting” twenty times into one sentence. I’m exaggerating obviously but he couldn’t have been less subtle.
Cindy Munford on February 23, 2011 at 3:54 PM
Sounds like the party just might be over…
… States can’t print money.
Seven Percent Solution on February 23, 2011 at 3:58 PM
How much do you folks think we would have to pay Canada to take Detroit off our hands?
Won’t work with Chicago though, -too far from the border.
slickwillie2001 on February 23, 2011 at 4:00 PM
You had that on in the background, too, huh? I thought the ghost in the remote turned to MSDNC for a moment.
Shep channeling Maddow. What is Fox thinking? Nevermind.
Greyledge Gal on February 23, 2011 at 4:00 PM
Better known as between a rock and a hard place?
a capella on February 23, 2011 at 4:03 PM
The House GOP needs to go ahead and get a measure passed that deals with state attempts to foist their debts onto Uncle Sam.
The requests will come. States will soon start realizing just how deep a hole they’ve dug themselves. They’ll be begging and pleading for a bailout. And when we refuse, the Dems will paint us as evil.
hawksruleva on February 23, 2011 at 4:03 PM
They’re all the same — totally interchangeable. She doesn’t even listen to him. She’s primed with her narratives and nothing else matters. It’s like they’re all competing with each other to conform as closely and unswervingly as they can to their little pod-people mantras.
God I hate the media.
rrpjr on February 23, 2011 at 4:05 PM
OMG..some actuaries wanna take a swing at how you fix that?
That’s like reading a (long forgotten) economic newsletter that claimed 450 Trillion dollar overhang in financial derivatives sloshing around the global economy.
Skandia Recluse on February 23, 2011 at 4:06 PM
I’ve got a friend at work that probably never voted for a Republican (at least state-wide) in his life. He voted Rep for IL gov this year because of the proposed (now accomplished) state income tax increase.
tgharris on February 23, 2011 at 4:06 PM
News people are union members of some sort, and so will always feel “solidarity” with their “brothers and sisters”. The union influence has been oppressive for years. They are not satisfied putting various industries out of business. So they’ve move on to what they think is an endless well of money…the taxpayer.
The education system of this country shows how corrupt the unions are. It will be very interesting to watch WI if Walker is successful.
Without unions,just merit. Maybe a lot of teacher would leave…maybe good teachers would take their place.
r keller on February 23, 2011 at 4:07 PM
It can never, ever be said enough.
gary4205 on February 23, 2011 at 4:08 PM
Ann Curry is the single most cloying, insincere interviewer working today.
rickyricardo on February 23, 2011 at 4:09 PM
2nd that hawksruleva
cmsinaz on February 23, 2011 at 4:10 PM
The good teachers would leave the unions and the bad ones would be sticking around for the tenure rules until the union gets decertified.
teke184 on February 23, 2011 at 4:10 PM
I would have found it hard not to laugh outright when Wall Street and banks were thrown under the pension driven bus. I think christie did all right, but he could have driven that point home a little harder.
Koa on February 23, 2011 at 4:11 PM
This is one of the best explanations re why public-sector unions are not in the public’s interest.
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/even-fdr-understood-no-collective-bargaining-for-public-servants/?singlepage=true
onlineanalyst on February 23, 2011 at 4:11 PM
The Palin shills just can’t stay out of the Christie threads.
rickyricardo on February 23, 2011 at 4:11 PM
That’s good news. Detroit is in the midst of a Renaissance, with GM and Chrysler leading the way. /s
angryed on February 23, 2011 at 4:14 PM
@2:15, Christie’s left hand is poised to grab that chick’s neck. I want to assist him.
leftnomore on February 23, 2011 at 4:17 PM
I haven’t watched this yet. Her sad concerned voice drives me up the wall but she usually saves that for touching stories.
Cindy Munford on February 23, 2011 at 4:18 PM
The reason why Republicans have been more aggressive in dealing with the problem is because more Republicans got elected to lead the states in 2010, both as executives and in control of legislatures, by voters who finally realize that their states are teetering on the abyss of bankruptcy and failure:
===============
So that would mean,that Liberals are in Denial,and since
their AWOL,and won’t face the true Reality of the States
Dire financial position,er,predicament,and are continually
running away and hiding,then,I guess they/them and those
Lefties,really do need interventions,and serious mental
health counciling,as was noted,after the November Election
by the DNC and Marxist Socialist Media!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
canopfor on February 23, 2011 at 4:22 PM
We had some clown from PSERs (for PA teacher retirees) try to pull this malarkey when he described our commonwealth’s shortfalls to our teachers’ honorary society. He was trying to play a blame game that just didn’t cut it with me.
Much to the chagrin of my fellow teachers, I told this jackwagon that the commonwealth cannot keep promising these goodies because of our aging population, the coming impact of ObaMaocare on pocketbooks amd the projected impact of more people being thrust on Medicaid. I also told him that in many of our communities, esp. those in rural areas, teachers have salaries that far exceed those of the taxpayers who support them. We teachers could hardly expect sympathy for our “plight” because of the commonwealth’s and each school district’s mismanagement/poor planning for future obligations.
When I began teaching, we had to wait ten years to be “vested”; that is, the school district and the state were to contribute towards our pensions with each of us contributing a percentage. I learned in this presentation that now teachers are “vested” after one year.
There were so many shell games going on with this retirement fund that it would make one cry. Fast Eddie Rendell was using our retirement funds for bread and circuses: funding stadiums and casinos.
I can barely be civil to my former colleagues who still rally around the union flag. They cannot see past their own greed.
onlineanalyst on February 23, 2011 at 4:27 PM
Glad I’m not the only one.
rrpjr on February 23, 2011 at 4:30 PM
Another point is that ObaMao’s failed stimulus (porkulus) plan just kicked the can down the road for many short-sighted state legislators. They were temporarily bailed out of their shortfall and failed to see that the well was not bottomless.
onlineanalyst on February 23, 2011 at 4:30 PM
I do want to say one thing on behalf of public employees. I remember when raising my kid and being in that stage of life, my professor husband would get his raise. And we would always hope that the take-home pay would increase. So, so often, the increases in wages were small, but the dump in the benefits was where it went.
That was to avoid public criticism.
We just opened up another package of macaroni. So I wouldn’t want the people who now have those benefits to not get the fruits of that system. They really did earn it in the sense that they didn’t see wage increases anywhere close to the same as in the private sector.
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 4:30 PM
“A Coordinated Republican Effort”
==================================
Its called Collateral Damage from the November Election!(sarc).
canopfor on February 23, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Boy,is she on a fishing trip,every question
under the sun!
canopfor on February 23, 2011 at 4:33 PM
Good interview.
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 4:36 PM
I haven’t watched this yet. Her sad concerned voice drives me up the wall but she usually saves that for touching stories.
Cindy Munford on February 23, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Cimdy Munford:Excellent,you summed that up nicely,
(sad concerned voice),well,your work
is done here,off to the next thread,
but,I kid Cindy!!:)
canopfor on February 23, 2011 at 4:37 PM
Even I have to admit that I agree with most of what Christie says. Whether that makes him presidential material or not is still an open question.
gryphon202 on February 23, 2011 at 4:38 PM
OT: T-Paw talking smack about the fleebaggers on Cavuto right now!
beancounter on February 23, 2011 at 4:39 PM
Really? I thought she did a surprisingly good job. An interviewer’s supposed to ask tough questions; that’s why Christie looks so good, because he fields those tough questions so well.
Caiwyn on February 23, 2011 at 4:40 PM
Two points from that Ferrara piece that I cited at 4:11pm are significant:
While technically the WI teachers are technically not on strike, their “blue flus” are a kind of wildcat strike or work stoppage. The fact that they are holding the youngsters hostage and even using them in protests is a dereliction of ethics.
onlineanalyst on February 23, 2011 at 4:41 PM
Hire this man.
pseudonominus on February 23, 2011 at 4:42 PM
Ah, but it is important to tie Moonbeam to the expectation that he will step up and confront California’s huge problems. I’m sure Brown would like to spend the whole time BSing about green jobs and high speed rail (!) and never talk about any downer subjects.
perries on February 23, 2011 at 4:44 PM
Good interview.
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 4:36 PM
AnninCA:Thats,if one enjoys,a InfoBabette’s Progressive
Spanish Inquisition!!(sarc).
The Spanish Inquisition
canopfor on February 23, 2011 at 4:44 PM
Which makes it all the more bizarre that some commenters have invested a lot time and effort to shoot down his chances of winning a primary.
chimney sweep on February 23, 2011 at 4:45 PM
The “private sector” is a rather all-encompassing and nebulous concept, Ann. When you compare apples to apples, tax-fed teachers do much better by any measure than their private school counterparts — and get much worse results.
That’s not to say by any stretch that I think the unions should lose what they negotiated for in good faith. It just seems to me that all too often, unions negotiate in bad faith.
gryphon202 on February 23, 2011 at 4:45 PM
Anne, that was then, but now the fiscal situation is much, much better. New teachers are able to buy homes and snazzy cars with very few teaching years under their belts.
onlineanalyst on February 23, 2011 at 4:45 PM
Add more to that list. Minnesota, Iowa’s getting there, Vermont! New York. You get 9 months of winter AND high taxes and regulations. I mean, who CHOOSES that?
Apologetic California on February 23, 2011 at 4:48 PM
It’s almost like they all have the same talking points or something.
Too bad they cannot think for themselves.
Chip on February 23, 2011 at 4:50 PM
This is what the democrats ran on in Illinois and California – vote for us, it is the only way to get a Federal bailout.
Vashta.Nerada on February 23, 2011 at 4:52 PM
Christie knows how important it is to get the fiscal austerity message out, and realizes that he has to use all media avenues to reach as many people as possible.
Including NBC, no friend to Republicans or conservative thought. The guy is fearless and plain spoken, is okay with being challenged or criticized, and actually seems to enjoy answering questions.
No hiding behind lame Facebook posts for Christie. No limiting himself to one right-leaning news channel where he knows he’ll get softball questions. And he won’t be a half-term governor, either.
Unless we are lucky enough to have him run for POTUS.
Meredith on February 23, 2011 at 4:52 PM
Only bizarre in relation to what he’s said. I think his actual record of achievement in New Jersey sucks. Saying his suitability is presidential material is an “open question” is my way of being kind to all the fangirls like Ann Coulter who fantasize about him. He’s about #20 on my list of top presidential contenders, and you can put me right up on there on the list of his policy critics.
gryphon202 on February 23, 2011 at 4:54 PM
*sigh* Another one going to Abilene.
http://conservativenewjersey.com/the-myth-of-christie-conservatism-part-1
gryphon202 on February 23, 2011 at 4:55 PM
I can’t get over the fact that NJ state workers get a $24000 family insurance policy for only $160/mo.
Envy is a sin, but dang.
mrsmwp on February 23, 2011 at 5:10 PM
Please kindly shut up. No one who thinks mao was a great man should opine on politics in America. I’m tired of having to constantly skip past your inane and meaningless ramblings.
runawayyyy on February 23, 2011 at 5:13 PM
Best part, how he shut the goofy interviewer’s ignorance down.
Schadenfreude on February 23, 2011 at 5:15 PM
Door’s that way, chump. Make like your namesake and run away to an echo chamber.
Dark-Star on February 23, 2011 at 5:17 PM
If anyone is in or near Trenton this Friday at noon, we’ll all be in front of the Statehouse Annex in a show of ‘solidarity’ with the taxpayers of Wisconsin…not to mention our own.
Go here or here for more information.
A representative of our group was invited to the Governor’s budget workshop breakfast tomorrow. We won’t let RGGI or the goings-on in Wisconsin escape Christie’s purview. But it’s great that he recognizes the significance of the tea party in New Jersey.
Oh yeh…we do exist.
russcote on February 23, 2011 at 5:25 PM
No, I meant more simply. We didn’t see the typical merit increase percentages in wages that other saw. They “hid” it in the benefits.
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 5:28 PM
?
I’ve never said anything about mao.
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 5:28 PM
Well, that’s probably in the teaching hospitals. They always did well, but then that’s the reality of that competitive labor market, too.
But I really meant it, as I said, in simpler terms. Typical merit increase for private workers was 7%, we maybe got 3%. That type of thing.
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 5:30 PM
I didn’t have a problem with her questions, either. And he did point out that this is facing Dems, too. That was a very good point.
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 5:31 PM
http://recovery.wisconsin.gov/MoneyTracker.aspx
maineconservative on February 23, 2011 at 5:31 PM
Couldn’t go a whole post without trashing Palin, could you?
portlandon on February 23, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Well to my understanding, that’s exactly why Wisconsin is seeking to limit collective bargaining to matters of cash wages. You look at the wages and see, “Oh. She’s making about 55,000 a year. That sounds okay.” What you don’t find out so readily is that the teacher in-question makes almost another 40-45k on top of that in non-cash benefits.
Fringe benefits, incidentally, are the bastard-child of WWII-era wage and price controls. Those WAPC laws didn’t expire until 1947, so the unions pushed for health insurance and paid vacation time that allowed the corporations to skirt the law. In the private sector, that tends to not be so bad since businesses must remain competitive with each other. When it comes to public-sector unions, who speaks for the taxpayer? The taxpayers are a party to the negotiations without a voice.
gryphon202 on February 23, 2011 at 5:36 PM
He’s not running for president, guys. He means what he says. You can tell.
He’s just selling his programs and his policies to NJ, which is quite enough of a challenge, I’m sure.
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 5:43 PM
Your elected representatives, of course.
I think on a go-forward basis, this could be just fine for public employees. It’s great to have wonderful benefits, but you can’t really eat them. LOL* And, I remember thinking, great…I’ve got terrific health benefits right when I probably go to a doctor once every 5 years!
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 5:46 PM
Christie is getting the job done!..:)
Dire Straits on February 23, 2011 at 5:53 PM
CA REP INTRODUCES AN END TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR STATE EMPLOYEES!
Mutnodjmet on February 23, 2011 at 5:53 PM
Don’t get me wrong; Christie is a bright guy and he does a fine interview here, and I’m fine with him running for president. I just think he’s too liberal in too many ways to have any shot at making it through the primaries, especially in the current political climate. Could he beat Obama head to head? Absolutely. But would he beat Palin, or even Huckabee in the South or in heartland America? Not a chance.
pugwriter on February 23, 2011 at 5:56 PM
They should, but they don’t — until now. And that is exactly what the unions are throwing a sh!tfit over. There are lots of states with some sort of balanced budget requirement in their constitutions. Very few take it seriously, and it’s nice for me to know that there’s at least one politician out there that still works for us.
gryphon202 on February 23, 2011 at 5:57 PM
He doesn’t have my primary vote (just in case anyone missed it). He is the great white conservative HYPE.
gryphon202 on February 23, 2011 at 5:58 PM
As for Christie’s insistence that he’s not running, I have to wonder how a politician so insistent on not running could possibly have so many people enamored with him. Perhaps he thinks he wouldn’t be able to stand up to tea party scrutiny…?
gryphon202 on February 23, 2011 at 5:59 PM
Bring it on, fat boy.
bifidis on February 23, 2011 at 6:13 PM
Christie mentions Haley Barbour and Mitch Daniels?!?..Wow1..:)
Dire Straits on February 23, 2011 at 6:16 PM
He may be someone who is suspicious of quick fame. I would be.
It’s a loser’s game, in my opinion. Everyone thinks you agree with them, and without a real record, there’s no way to convince them otherwise. Or vice versa.
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 6:19 PM
Well, I agree that the issue should be discussed. Things changed a lot, and the power of public employee unions today is unprecedented in my own history, anyway.
But we all can’t sit in on negotiations, of course. It’s got to be representative.
AnninCA on February 23, 2011 at 6:22 PM
Chris Christie, We’re all Badgers now.
Dr Evil on February 23, 2011 at 6:50 PM
But to hear the Christiephiles talk, you’d think he already has an established record. That’s what I can’t figure out. His “record” consists of mostly Youtube clips and the attendant promises therein. I’m not terribly surprised that would look good to someone who hasn’t actually dug any deeper.
gryphon202 on February 23, 2011 at 8:00 PM
The unions are sending this link to a WSJ poll out to their activists. let them know what you think: Should state employees have collective-bargaining rights?
obladioblada on February 23, 2011 at 9:32 PM
Anyone who supports cap and tax and won’t fight Obamacare has no credibility.
When Christie walks the walk then I’ll believe the talk because it sure doesn’t look like “morning again’ in New Jersey.
Done That on February 24, 2011 at 6:36 AM