Christopher James "Chris" Christie is an American politician and member of the Republican Party who is the 55th Governor of New Jersey. He has served in that capacity since January 2010. He is married with 4 children and currently campaigning for the office of President of the United States.
On the Issues:
Abortion:
- Ban abortions after 20 weeks, with exceptions. (Jun 2015)
- GOP tolerates pro-choice views; Dems don't tolerate pro-life. (Mar 2014)
- 1996: partial birth procedure is reprehensible. (Jun 2012)
- 1994: Donated to Planned Parenthood; opposed public donation. (Jun 2012)
- Pro-choice until seeing daughter pre-natally. (Jun 2012)
- 1996: Switched from pro-choice to pro-life. (Jun 2012)
- Eliminate family planning funding from state budget. (Jun 2012)
- I'm pro-life with exceptions; take it or leave it. (Jun 2011)
- Life is precious and should be protected. (Jun 2011)
- "Default pro-choice" until hearing 13-week fetal heartbeat. (Jun 2011)
- Pro-life; the life of every human being is precious. (Jul 2009)
- The rich are doing fine; cater to middle-income workers. (Jan 2015)
- Five balanced budgets in a row, without tax increases. (Oct 2014)
- Let government shut-down occur, until Legislature is ready. (Jun 2012)
- 2011: 2% cap on most cities' municipal spending. (Jun 2012)
- Erased $11B in budget deficit via spending cuts. (Jul 2011)
- To make budget deal, must get leadership talking in one room. (Jun 2011)
On Social Security:
- National entitlements reform package including means-testing. (Jun 2015)
- State pensions cut by $120B; but $90B still to go. (Jan 2015)
- Pension reform: raise retirement age, suspend COLAs. (Jan 2013)
- We're in trouble due to overspending on entitlement programs. (Jun 2011)
- Raise the retirement age, and limit COLA, for state workers. (Jan 2011)
- Disagree with Supreme Court, but gay marriage is law of land. (Jun 2015)
- Gay marriage is settled in NJ, but keep debating nationally. (Jul 2014)
- If my kids were gay, I'd give them a hug; but no marriage. (Oct 2013)
- Supreme Court accepting gay marriage was "a bad decision". (Jun 2013)
- No legislating gay marriage; but referendum ok. (Mar 2013)
- Homosexuality is not a sin; people are born that way. (Jun 2012)
- Marriage is an institution between one man & one woman. (Jun 2012)
- Vetoed closure of Developmental Disabilities Centers. (Aug 2011)
- Pursue civil unions in NJ, but not same-sex marriage. (Jun 2011)
- Homosexuals are born that way; they're not sinners. (Jun 2011)
- Marriage exclusively between one man and one woman. (Jul 2009)
- Include mental health records in gun background checks. (Jun 2015)
- Focus on violence control, not gun control. (Nov 2013)
- Vetoed outright ban on Barrett .50 caliber rifle. (Oct 2013)
- We already have too many firearms in our community. (Jun 2012)
- 2009: No right-to-carry cross-state reciprocity. (Jun 2012)
- Favors gun control measures from law-enforcement perspective. (Jun 2012)
- Drug addiction is a disease: treatment instead of jail. (Apr 2015)
- Drug addiction is a disease & it can be treated. (Jan 2015)
- Drug courts: mandate treatment, not imprisonment. (Jan 2014)
- 1995: Applied 25% of county salary to drug addict residence. (Jun 2012)
- Blocked implementation of medical marijuana laws. (Jun 2012)
- Drug treatment rather than non-violent offenders in prison. (Jan 2012)
- Outlaw designer drugs labeled as "bath salts". (Aug 2011)
- Signed NJ onto Common Core but now regrets it. (Jun 2015)
- Supports both charter schools and vouchers. (Jun 2015)
- Speak the truth to the teachers union; then reform tenure. (Jun 2015)
- Extend school until 6 PM daily; and 12 months per year. (Jun 2015)
- Tenure reform for failing teachers; merit pay for good ones. (Jan 2015)
- Choice of schools to meet child's needs. (Jan 2015)
- Combine $8.9B in more funding with needed reform. (Jan 2013)
- Take on the teachers unions for real tenure reform. (Aug 2012)
- Dems believe in teacher's unions; we believe in teachers. (Aug 2012)
- Allow students in failing schools to attend better schools. (Jun 2012)
- 1984: As student, made speech to Delaware state Senate. (Jun 2012)
- Wife and children attended parochial schools. (Jun 2012)
- 1999: Lobbied for Edison Schools, for-profit school operator. (Jun 2012)
- Vote down school budgets unless teachers freeze pay. (Jun 2012)
- Replace Abbott District funds with tenure reform & charters. (Jan 2012)
- Most great teachers want accountability. (Jun 2011)
- Criticizes NJEA leadership as well as state's teachers. (Feb 2011)
- Tried to cut school superintendent salaries by edict. (Feb 2011)
- OpEd: Christie & NCLB push teachers; but not students. (Feb 2011)
- Couldn't measure charter success: lost $14M in federal funds. (Feb 2011)
- More charter schools; ok for private companies to operate. (Feb 2011)
- Let school leaders get certified by alternate routes. (Feb 2011)
- OpEd: NJ schools best in US; only urban districts struggling. (Feb 2011)
- OpEd: Portrays tenure as lifetime guarantee, but it's not. (Feb 2011)
- OpEd: Ignores that parents educate kids more than teachers. (Feb 2011)
- Expand 73 charter schools to replace 200 failing schools. (Jan 2011)
- Build up colleges to support business, & avoid "brain drain". (Jul 2009)
- Public education system is failing; increase accountability. (Jul 2009)
On Energy and Oil:
- Anthropogenic climate change is real; but build Keystone XL. (Jun 2015)
- Consider windmills off NJ coast. (Jun 2012)
- Pulled out of ten-state Regional Greenhouse Gas program. (Jun 2012)
- The future for New Jersey is in green energy. (Jul 2011)
- Don't tap strategic reserves for political purposes. (Jun 2011)
- Incentivize energy manufacturing & wind turbines. (Nov 2009)
- Make NJ a magnet for renewable energy manufacturer. (Jul 2009)
- Ethanol in gasoline is the law; and that's just the minimum. (Mar 2015)
- Vetoes regulation of animal confinement for gestating sows. (Nov 2014)
- New Jersey is being short-changed on Hurricane Sandy relief. (Jan 2013)
- Canceled work on new Hudson River rail tunnel NYC to NJ. (Jun 2012)
- Rejected $9B transit project as "tunnel to Macy's basement". (Jun 2012)
- Jersey shore for tourism instead of offshore drilling. (Aug 2011)
- $157 million for Green Acres open-space acquisition. (Aug 2011)
$9.7 more for Early Childhood Intervention Program. (Jul 2011)
On Foreign Policy:
- Given who I am, Putin would not have invaded Crimea. (Sep 2014)
- America should be clear to world about what we stand for. (Feb 2014)
- New isolationism, & reducing anti-terrorism, is dangerous. (Jul 2013)
- Remain vigilant but stay connected to rest of the world. (Feb 2012)
On Free-Trade:
- Trade mission to Mexico doubles as foreign policy tour. (Sep 2014)
- Jersey to Jerusalem Trade Mission: led delegation to Israel. (Mar 2012)
- Consolidate duplicative town governments into single towns. (Jan 2014)
- Vetoes expanded early-voting system; no side-by-side systems. (May 2013)
- Stricter limits on PAC campaign donations. (Jun 2012)
- 1998: Opposed spending $15,000 for new public utility logo. (Jun 2012)
- 1997: Doubled size of US Attorney's anti-corruption unit. (Jun 2012)
- Judges who legislate from the bench will not be reappointed. (Jun 2012)
- Forced resignations at Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission. (Jun 2012)
- Corruption is key because people need faith in government. (Apr 2012)
- Legacy as U.S. Attorney: dismantled N.J. Democratic Party. (Apr 2012)
- Allow just one public salary for state legislators. (Jun 2011)
- More control over state commissions. (Apr 2011)
- Refused to reappoint activist judge to NJ Supreme Court. (Nov 2010)
- Use the line item veto; put everything online. (Nov 2009)
- 10-point plan to punish criminal officeholders. (Aug 2009)
- Cut wasteful spending; empower fiscal watchdogs. (Jul 2009)
- Parents have some choice, but kids should be vaccinated. (Feb 2015)
- Hold down Medicaid costs while providing focused choice. (Jan 2015)
- Mandatory quarantine for travelers from Ebola areas. (Oct 2014)
- 3-week quarantine for Ebola medical workers. (Oct 2014)
- Expand Medicare, but no N.J. ObamaCare exchange. (Nov 2013)
- ObamaCare was a mistake; a failed policy from the start. (Nov 2013)
- Allow insurers to sell "mandate-free" policies. (Jun 2012)
- Prosecuted politicians & their cronies, including jail time. (Jun 2012)
- 2002-2006: uncovered $800M in medical kickbacks to doctors. (Jun 2012)
- $159M for community health centers for the most vulnerable. (Aug 2011)
- 3.2% funding increase for National Institutes of Health. (Apr 2010)
- Loosen "one-size-fits-all" approach to Medicaid. (Jan 2011)
- Libertarian anti-NSA secrecy stance is an esoteric debate. (Jul 2013)
- Want to reduce anti-terrorism? Come talk to 9/11 victims. (Jul 2013)
- Second American Century: strong military & sure values. (Aug 2012)
- Patriot Act OK to monitor library book selections. (Jun 2012)
- FBI inappropriately detained many people after 9/11. (Jun 2012)
- Strengthen support network for military families. (Sep 2011)
- Fund Veteran to Veteran Peer Support Program. (Aug 2011)
- We ARE the leader in Libya; we MUST be the world's police. (Jun 2011)
- No pathway to citizenship, but college tuition for illegals. (Jun 2015)
- 2010: supported path to citizenship; 2013: backed away. (Feb 2015)
- I favor fixing a broken system. (Nov 2013)
- Path to citizenship in context of fixing broken system. (Nov 2013)
- I've never been opposed to tuition equality for illegals. (Oct 2013)
- Focus on reducing unemployment but not government employment. (Jan 2015)
- Don't raise minimum wage; create better-paying jobs instead. (Oct 2014)
- Zero means zero: fight abuse of sick leave & pension fraud. (Jan 2014)
- I inherited 119,000 private-sector jobs lost. (Mar 2013)
- 75,000 new private sector jobs since taking office in 2010. (Jan 2013)
- Supports Urban Hub program and Economic Redevelopment Grants. (Jul 2011)
- Garden State Growth Zones to attract new private investment. (Nov 2009)
- NJ Partnership for Action: attract quality-paying jobs. (Jul 2009)
- Ok with either unionized state workers or civil service. (May 2009)
On War and Peace:
- Be ready to send American troops to fight ISIL. (Jun 2015)
- Syria: If we draw a red line, we must finish the job. (Sep 2014)
- Governors shouldn't offer opinions about Syria. (Nov 2013)
- America and Israel share beliefs and share enemies. (Feb 2012)
- Iranian nukes are profoundly against our national security. (Feb 2012)
- I'm not a nation-building guy; we've achieved Afghan goals. (Jun 2011)
- Don't pull troops out of Afghanistan until military says so. (Jun 2011)
And there you have it.
Well, that, and he loves doughnuts. And who doesn't love doughnuts?
Next up...Bobby Jindal!
