Christie presses pension reforms at town hall

SPARTA (AP) — Gov. Chris Christie is continuing to defend his decision to scale back promised payments to the state's public worker pension system as the budget deadline draws nearer.

Christie got into a lengthy back-and-forth about the topic at his 137th town hall event at the Sussex County Technical School Thursday.

Christie says the state cannot afford the payments it agreed to under a 2011 law. The issue is currently in court.

The likely Republican presidential contender was also asked at one point to resign. He politely declined.

Christie has been holding frequent town halls in the early-voting state of New Hampshire as he prepares for an expected presidential campaign.

He told radio host Laura Ingraham Wednesday that his town halls set him apart from his potential rivals.

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