“It’s Medicaid. It’s the biggest thing. I mean, our Medicaid program is $1.4 billion in deficit this year and because of Obamacare we can’t change the level of benefit that we offer because of the mandates that they’ve put on us. And, I think, you know, if we’re going to pay for 50 percent of it, we should have some control over it and the way this administration’s done it is they just want to control all of it. So, that’s the biggest problem for us,” he said. Beginning in 2014, the health care law requires states to cover every individual under Medicaid whose income is equivalent to 133 percent of the poverty level or less. --New Jersey Governor Chris Christie May 2011
For the past 24 hours it seems as if every liberal pundit was questioning CPAC for neglecting to invite NJ Governor Chris Christie to speak at their conference beginning in two weeks. Today the governor announced a decision which justified the CPAC action. More
He is up for re-election in a blue bastion, and enjoys a positive rating. Pragmatism is the order of the day. His primary role is to anticipate and meet needs of his state rather than pass litmus tests from pundits.
Post election, he can navigate more freely (as can any re-elected pol).
He has not attended CPAC in the past even with invitations. He would be giving opponents a free kick if he did, and has been wise enough not to appear; doesn't mean he can't communicate at other times.
Winning the argument and losing the election does not advance the cause.
He is up for re-election in a blue bastion, and enjoys a positive rating. Pragmatism is the order of the day. His primary role is to anticipate and meet needs of his state rather than pass litmus tests from pundits.
ReplyDeletePost election, he can navigate more freely (as can any re-elected pol).
He has not attended CPAC in the past even with invitations. He would be giving opponents a free kick if he did, and has been wise enough not to appear; doesn't mean he can't communicate at other times.
Winning the argument and losing the election does not advance the cause.