The Moorestown Recreation Center was filled with news stations, reporters, Moorestown Council members, local residents and other citizens from across New Jersey when Gov. Christie came to Moorestown for his 128th town hall in the state. Christie utilized his hour and a half of time to talk about his proposed $33.8 billion 2016 budget as well as to answer questions from citizens.
“I thought it was a good place for him to come out to and a smart idea that he came to this Republican town,” James Mullin, a Moorestown resident, said.
According to Christie, the biggest problem in New Jersey is the state pension system. Last week, he announced that he expects the state to make a $1.3 billion payment to the state pension system. He said residents of New Jersey will not have their taxes increased to pay for it, however he didn’t say how payment to the state pension would be accomplished.
He then went on to answer the public’s questions. A few Moorestown residents got to ask a question to the governor. Resident Joseph Griffin asked the governor if he would be able to stay in New Jersey after he retires, as his parents have moved to Florida and many others are doing the same. Christie said he wanted Mullin to stay in New Jersey and talked about his budget plan a bit, which Griffin supported.
“I want to stay here and I want you to stay here,” Christie said to Griffin.
Lindsay Fuller of Moorestown and Charles Brooks of Cinnaminson both brought up the topic of Hurricane Sandy. While Brooks was concerned about the massive storm’s effect on Atlantic City’s revenue and livelihood, Fuller had a personal problem from the storm with his charter boat business. Fuller was asked to give his information so he could speak to those dealing directly with Sandy and his questions. Christie explained to Brooks that Atlantic City had problems before Sandy, but they are working on transforming the city for it to be successful again.
Though not Moorestown residents, Dr. Kathleen Freeman and Joan Migton were with a large group of audience members in attendance to ask Christie about and draw his attention to New Jersey’s Statewide Transition Plan — which refers to new regulations regarding the placement of individuals with developmental disabilities. The group mostly consisted of parents of developmentally disabled young adults. The group expressed its concerns on how restrictive the plan is.
From comments provided by attorney Lisa McCauley Parles, a mother of a child with autism and a partner with Parles Rekem, a law firm representing individuals with disabilities and their families, under New Jersey’s plan, for a residential setting to be funded with Community Care Waiver funds, it must be either a four- to six-bedroom group home or set-aside units in a development where no more than 25 percent of the residents are disabled. It also requires for day program participants to receive waiver funding, the participants must spend at least 75 percent of their time in the community, not at the day program site. These rules are not required by the federal CMS regulations. Parles wanted others to check out the Facebook Page “Say No To NJ’s Statewide Transition Plan — Say YES to Choice” and join the conversation.
Mullin didn’t get to ask a question, but he was interested in New Jersey’s policy on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, waste, in which Christie vetoed a bill earlier in 2014 saying it was unconstitutional and would violate the Commerce Clause. Christie said New Jersey doesn’t have fracking waste, but according to Mullin, other states are allowed to dispose of it in New Jersey. He feels Christie’s reasoning on vetoing the bill was wrong and that by doing so, the governor wasn’t protecting his people and the environment.
At the end of the meeting, Christie talked about the rumors of him running for president of the United States. He said he isn’t ruling it out, but he hasn’t made up his mind. However, he said whether he runs for president, he is focused on his job as governor of New Jersey.
“I am focused on this job. I care about this job,” Christie said.
