Chris Christie Says Sandy Recovery Will Be Bi-Partisan

Super-storm Sandy wasn’t a Republican or Democratic storm, says Governor Chris Christie, and that’s why rebuilding and recovery efforts should not be partisan. Emerging from a closed-door meeting in his outer office at the State House this afternoon, the Governor says he has gotten a bi-partisan commitment from State Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Republican leaders, State Senator Tom Kean and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick.

Christie says the leaders have agreed to keep Sandy recovery, “out of the political realm.” As far as just how devastating Sandy was, the Governor says, “We’ll come out by the end of this week with both projections in terms of what impact if any this (Sandy) will have on revenues, positive, negative or neutral. We’ll also talk about what we think the losses have been, the damages have been in this storm and we should be able to come out with that by Friday from what I’m being told by the (State) Treasurer.”

"The Assembly has always been committed to working together with everyone to ensure the storm recovery and rebuilding goes as smoothly and quickly as possible, with everyone on the same page, so it was nice to hear the Governor shares the same commitment,” says Oliver. “Assembly members continue to meet daily with constituents back in their districts to hear their concerns first-hand and resolve as many problems as they can, and we’ll continue to do that as we move forward with all parties on a thoughtful recovery plan."

With a preliminary damage assessment might also come a clearer picture of whether or not the state can afford a tax cut as Christie was demanding prior to Sandy. He says, “If I’m confronted with information which then makes it impossible to do what I want to do, I know how to do math. I’m a realist, but I’m not ready to make that admission yet. If it comes I will make it.”

Christie is also warning New Jerseyans in storm-damaged towns that their property taxes are likely to rise. One of the exemptions in the state's 2 percent tax cap law is for emergencies like super-storm Sandy.