Gov. Chris Christie thinks it's time for the state to revisit making the lieutenant governor serve as acting governor when he is out of state. 

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Gov. Chris Christie
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Gov. Chris Christie (Stephen Chernin, Getty Images)
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Christie said during a news conference on Sept. 18 that he's still in charge, regardless as to whether he's in New Jersey or not. "It's not like I'm incommunicado. It's not like I need someone to get the Pony Express to bring me a message."

Calling the law outdated and ridiculous, Christie said it's time for the Legislature to consider amending the law.

"Wherever I am, there's Wi-Fi and cell phones," Christie said.

Besides, said Christie, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno's role doesn't change when he's out of state, and he wouldn't want it to.

"I'm the governor when I'm in New Hampshire.  I'm the governor when I'm in Iowa.  I'm the governor when I'm in Texas.  I'm the governor when I'm in South Carolina.  I'm the governor -  and I don't think there's any confusion among anybody in the state about who the governor is. I don't really think people think Kim is the governor when I'm not here," Christie said.

And while he would like to see the law changed, he admits there could be times when a lieutenant governor will need to make decisions that are otherwise normally made by a governor.

"If you want to narrowly tailor something that says if the governor is incapacitated, under anesthesia, in a place where you cannot communicate, where cell service is not available - then that's perfectly appropriate. You need somebody there to be able to make those decisions," Christie said.

If people really think the acting governor statute is necessary, he questions why we don't use a similar statute with the president and vice president.  "Why isn't Joe Biden the acting president when the president is out of the country? The president's out of the country, nobody goes, 'Well Joe Biden's in charge' - he's not."

Guadagno was elected New Jersey's first lieutenant governor in November 2009 and was re-elected to a second term last year.  Prior to 2010, New Jersey didn't have a lieutenant governor position.

 

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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