Clock ticking for Christie to decide on bills on his desk

The clock is ticking for Gov. Chris Christie to act on several dozen bills sitting on his desk, including an aid package for the economically hurting resort town of Atlantic City.

The Atlantic City bills are among the highest-profile measures awaiting action from Christie, who is also seeking the Republican presidential nomination. He also faces a decision on an overhaul to the state's election laws.

Lawmakers expect some action by Monday or sooner.

New Jersey's governor has 45 days from the time legislation passes to act on it or it becomes law, but that clock stops when the chamber where a bill originated is out of session, as the Assembly has been throughout the election season.

The chamber is scheduled to return Monday, and if a quorum is reached, then Christie would have to act or the bills become law.

The bills come to the fore and call out for Christie's attention at home in New Jersey as his presidential campaign endures ups and downs.

His national poll numbers have him at the back of the crowded field, keeping him from appearing with the top candidates in Tuesday's upcoming debate on Fox Business Network. But he's seen improvement in the early voting state of New Hampshire, and a video of the governor speaking on the trail about drug addiction has been shared on Facebook millions of times.

Christie was asked directly about the Atlantic City legislation during a radio call-in show this week, but did not say whether he would sign or veto the bill.

The most important of the five measures would let Atlantic City's eight casinos make payments in lieu of taxes for 15 years. That allows them to know how much they owe instead of facing potential annual increases.

Other provisions call for creating state education aid for Atlantic City; mandate health insurance and retirement benefits for casino workers; divert alternative investment taxes the casinos now pay for redevelopment projects to help pay down city debt; and eliminate the Atlantic City Alliance.

Four of Atlantic City's 12 casinos closed last year. Officials are considering whether to let voters decide to expand casino gambling beyond the city.

Among the other bills Christie is considering includes an overhaul to the state's election laws, which Democrats call outdated. Christie has indicated he's skeptical of the ideas contained in the legislation.

The measure would enact automatic voter registration when residents apply for driver's licenses, establish early voting and authorized pre-registration for 17-year-olds, among other measures.

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