Christie is an embarassment to the legal profession and my home state. It would be even worse if he became president.
17
Boy, things are not looking good for Christie. He's coming off like a clown. This settlement is an utter joke and a complete disgrace. What on earth is going on here? This once promising administration and two-term governor are becoming a joke. The spin released today (3.5.15) does not come close to jusifying why the store was given away. They gave away the store! Let's all explain that to our kids before we're long gone and they are left to live with these toxic sites.
20
Thank you much for this!
6
Let's call this exactly what it is: A bribe by Exxon. The only shocking thing is that it is so blatant and Christie and his people think we are too stupid to see it. To the people of New Jersey Christie has become Public Enemy No. 1.
26
There is a silver lining.
Thy tell us that the money that Exxon has saved will go to rich people, and eventually trickle down to the rest of us !!
It's a win - win !!
Thy tell us that the money that Exxon has saved will go to rich people, and eventually trickle down to the rest of us !!
It's a win - win !!
11
Gov. Christie is slicker than the Exxon Valdez.
12
Cut a presidential candidate some slack, superpac contributions don't come cheap.
7
If the deal represents this con artist's best work at covering his (huge) tracks, he is not a player. President? NJ has county commissioners who can do better than this.
6
This should sink Mr. Christie once and for all, and, by God, I hope it does. This item, coming just days after a horrific decision regarding corrections officers at Attica, gives us who are listening an inkling of just how corrupt government can be.
7
This is disgraceful, even for New Jersey politics!
9
"While Mr. Christie’s eye has been on the presidency, his staff has traded away an opportunity to recover billions of dollars to restore natural resources damaged or destroyed by Exxon." This is rather charitable toward Mr. Christie, don't you think? As with the George Washington Bridge fiasco, nothing happens in the Christie regime without Christie's approval.
He not exactly attracting the big money for his presidential campaign coffers. An investigation into bribery is in order, AND the judge needs to reject this abysmal settlement.
He not exactly attracting the big money for his presidential campaign coffers. An investigation into bribery is in order, AND the judge needs to reject this abysmal settlement.
23
I hope the investigation lands Christie in the same place as ex-Virginia governor Bob McDonnell.
21
I'm not a fan of Chris Christie, but I am glad to see we've moved on from the phony traffic jam "scandal" to something of consequence. The sooner he's out of the Presidential picture, the better.
9
This Dem hopes he gets the GOP nomination. He's the perfect candidate for the GOP. Just perfect!
5
Something of consequence? Where have you been? Everything he has done has been done this way by the most corrupt gubernatorial administration in New Jersey in nearly 100 years. Everything. Everything.
13
This 'settlement' with Exxon by the executive branch of government is for all intents and purposes equivalent to passing a $5 or $8 billion state tax credit for a single corporation for their historical contributions in destroying the state's environment, except the tax credit bypassed the state legislature and was passed unilaterally by corrupt, executive fiat.
This guy Chris Christie should be impeached from office for defrauding the state, misrepresenting the citizenry and holding the public in complete contempt.
This guy Chris Christie should be impeached from office for defrauding the state, misrepresenting the citizenry and holding the public in complete contempt.
35
Some posters have hoped the judge would reject the settlement. I doubt he has that power.
This is a one party vs. one party lawsuit, in which the parties are ordinarily free to make whatever settlement they choose, without needing court approval. They only need to agree, and to file a stipulation of dismissal, no judicial approval needed.
Judicial approval is usually required, for example, where parties not before the court may need protection in their absence, as with class actions and derivative actions. But nothing like that is here -- unless there’s some NJ statute I don’t know about that requires it in the circumstances.
So NJ residents' hope is with legislative oversight having the power, and the will, to correct this.
This is apparently so outrageous that Exxon may well tire of the very bad press, and the hard-to-stifle rumors of payoffs and other corruption. Exxon may come to think it better to reopen and renegotiate the settlement. It can afford to.
This is a one party vs. one party lawsuit, in which the parties are ordinarily free to make whatever settlement they choose, without needing court approval. They only need to agree, and to file a stipulation of dismissal, no judicial approval needed.
Judicial approval is usually required, for example, where parties not before the court may need protection in their absence, as with class actions and derivative actions. But nothing like that is here -- unless there’s some NJ statute I don’t know about that requires it in the circumstances.
So NJ residents' hope is with legislative oversight having the power, and the will, to correct this.
This is apparently so outrageous that Exxon may well tire of the very bad press, and the hard-to-stifle rumors of payoffs and other corruption. Exxon may come to think it better to reopen and renegotiate the settlement. It can afford to.
8
Worse than Bridgegate. If anything good comes from this it will be the end of Chris Christie.
8
Readers,
This is an OPINION piece. What is stated here might be completely true, or it might not be.
So many of you are accepting this lock, stock and barrel. Where are you critical reading skills?
This is an OPINION piece. What is stated here might be completely true, or it might not be.
So many of you are accepting this lock, stock and barrel. Where are you critical reading skills?
There may be opinion in the piece, but the facts remain: Christie's administration made a bad deal for his state, a deal which other corporations did not get. It is absolutely correct of the author and the commenters to discuss the background and the reasons for this "deal." Further, the author has serious chops and knowledge of the history of the case, so it's not like it's some puff piece.
11
The people who would vote for Christie do not care about anything except that their taxes should not go up. They do not care that the water they drink or the air they breathe will adversely affect them or cause them cancer. Just looking at this guy would tell you that he doesn't believe in a healthy body or a healthy environment. It's all about the money he gets from corporations. What kind of morals does this guy have? Christie is a menace to people and needs to be impeached. And if he is impeached I can still see millions of moronic people voting for him for president as long as he preaches no new taxes and continues to spew his nasty comments. After all it lets his constituents feel good. Can't wait to see how much he allows NJ Transit to raise their fares. The last fare increase a few years ago was raised 25% and is costing my wife and I over $1000.00 more per year to take the train. Hey Christie, thanks for nothing which is probably what the settlement with Exxon will bring after the state's legal fees are paid.
.
.
18
I am shocked, simply shocked that something like this could have happened under Gov. Christie's watch.
7
This editorial is getting a lot of traction on nj.com. And NJ lawmakers are calling for an investigation into how this "deal" was negotiated because of it. Good.
27
Maybe they simply got the decimal point wrong?
3
Run the numbers and you will find the return on investment of campaign contributions typically is between 1,500% and 15,000%. Meaning for every dollar put into a politicians campaign the company gains 15 to 150 dollars.
With that type of payoff corporations would be failing their stockholders if they did not buy a few politicians every cycle.
In California a governor was elected after receiving campaign funds from a company facing claims in the billions from damage done to the state and its citizens. That candidate had promised to settle the case for less than 10% of the damages. He won. The company won.
Looks like Christie plays by the same rules. Both governors I am talking about are Republicans. No surprise.
With that type of payoff corporations would be failing their stockholders if they did not buy a few politicians every cycle.
In California a governor was elected after receiving campaign funds from a company facing claims in the billions from damage done to the state and its citizens. That candidate had promised to settle the case for less than 10% of the damages. He won. The company won.
Looks like Christie plays by the same rules. Both governors I am talking about are Republicans. No surprise.
12
you should have said about the CA case "a FORMER gov," lest people from elsewhere think this is about Jerry Brown.
6
Let's see:Bridge politics, Sandy hanky panky, underfunding public pensions, and now the Exxon bailout. Christie makes Frank Underwood look like Mr. Rogers.
12
Or John Goti like Dudley Doright.
6
A sum the judge should adjudicate
Christie for Exxon did vitiate
Three cents on the dollar
Makes everyone holler
Our gov’s venality incarnate
Christie for Exxon did vitiate
Three cents on the dollar
Makes everyone holler
Our gov’s venality incarnate
6
Thanks Chris.
Socializing Risk, Privatizing Profit, theory proved, next!
Socializing Risk, Privatizing Profit, theory proved, next!
8
Christie is damaged goods and no longer has the chance to win the presidency. He is doing this as a good Republican party soldier to fulfill their promise of being "pro-business." Sickening.
8
Is this the same Exxon, which appealed the Exxon Valdez settlement from a couple of billions down to a few handfuls of millions?
When money talks, governors walk.
When money talks, governors walk.
14
I certainly don't think Christie has a snowball's chance of becoming President and turning the rest of the country into New Jersey writ large. But I also don't understand why he was re-elected governor. At the time he was re-elected, he had turned down about 7 billion dollars of federal grant money for a third train tunnel between NJ and NYC. While the project would have also required NJ taxpayer money, the rewards would have been huge in terms of jobs and quality of life issues for the poor NJ commuter.
Now he turns down damages worth potentially billions of dollars to settle for $250 million?! This guy is starting to cost NJ a lot in terms of jobs, the environment and the quality of our lives, don't you think? And also, it's hard not to conclude that he sees Exxon as the quid for his presidential aspiring quo. Let's impeach him.
NJ democrats need to develop and promote a strong candidate for governor well before the next election. And equally important the voters need to recognize and reward stewardship and leadership at the polls, not bluster and bullying. Two very different things.
Now he turns down damages worth potentially billions of dollars to settle for $250 million?! This guy is starting to cost NJ a lot in terms of jobs, the environment and the quality of our lives, don't you think? And also, it's hard not to conclude that he sees Exxon as the quid for his presidential aspiring quo. Let's impeach him.
NJ democrats need to develop and promote a strong candidate for governor well before the next election. And equally important the voters need to recognize and reward stewardship and leadership at the polls, not bluster and bullying. Two very different things.
21
Do we know how much the State's lawyers & expert consultants were paid over the 11 year Exxon lawsuit?
Could be a significant part of that $250 million, no?
Could be a significant part of that $250 million, no?
5
Guess when Obama does it, it's "Executive Authority"; when a GOP governor does it, it's something else...Shocking...
1
No, it's called abuse of enforcement discretion.
9
Please tell me again, Governor, how it is the State cannot afford to properly fund the workers' pension fund?
22
Despoiling New Jersey's wetlands not only impacts on New Jersey residents it impacts everyone. Those estuaries impact on the Atlantic Ocean and all the flora and fauna associated with it. Estuaries are the oceans nurseries. There appears to be no logical explanation for Christie's staff to interject into this case other than a political payoff. The Judge should reject this settlement forthwith. Christie has demonstrated once again that he is not suitable for higher office.
13
"Former colleagues of mine in state government, where I served as commissioner of environmental protection from 2002 to 2006, have told me that Mr. Christie’s chief counsel inserted himself into the case, elbowed aside the attorney general and career employees who had developed and prosecuted the litigation, and cut the deal favorable to Exxon."
In Texas, the AG is an elected official, but I guess not in NJ.
In Texas, the AG is an elected official, but I guess not in NJ.
7
Christie really needs to go. We have another 2.5 years of this naked corruption from this administration. This example is only the latest in a litany of transgressions, missteps, and outright fraud that he and his administrative minions have facilitated against the best interests of the state he was elected twice to serve. Every economic indicator for the state of NJ has worsened under Christie's tenure. Absolute gross negligence and behavior. What an awful governor, and an even worse human being. "Impeach Christie" would get my vote.
23
I guess Crisite knows he is not going to get the nomination. Might as well jump into bed with XOM for the future! Maybe board, or pension adviser!
Visit Dallas often, go to cowboy games.
Visit Dallas often, go to cowboy games.
10
Christie has the morals of Tony Soprano. Too bad James Gandolfini is not available to play the governor in a bio-pic.
13
Do we all think the Koch Brothers are spending their money on all the Republican candidates out of the goodness of their hearts? They are going to be the next Exxon and they can and will get away with anything and everything, plus get rid of EPA as cherry on top.
8
Take a guess where Chris Christie will be working after his tenure as Governor.
16
If there is any justice in the world, at the New Jersey Department of Corrections, stamping out license plates.
12
Not only does Exxon get the tax deduction on the penalty, but their cost of doing business is reduced by their actions, and Exxon's margins and profits are protected.
Another, privatize the profits and socialize the losses.
Also, Exxon receives federal and state subsidies from tax payers to increase their profits further.
This may be why Exxon pays little or no taxes, placing the tax burden on middle class families.
Another, privatize the profits and socialize the losses.
Also, Exxon receives federal and state subsidies from tax payers to increase their profits further.
This may be why Exxon pays little or no taxes, placing the tax burden on middle class families.
20
For goodness sakes, it's only money and besides, we all know that New Jersey is awash in cash, or at least Exxon is. I guess Exxon will be supporting Christie in a big way in his presidential run. No doubt Exxon can honestly claim that he is business friendly. I don't think they should say he's "bought and paid for".
7
The decades of Exxon oil contamination adversely affects both New Jersey and New York (Staten Island). After a decade of legal work Exxon was found liable and compensation to clean up the mess was in order. This compensation is justice for the communities who have suffered untold illness and a bleak, soiled waterfront from the runaway pollution. This compensation CAN clean up and begin to restore the wetlands. This compensation CAN transform these areas by sponsoring design competitions to create waterfront parks with bike paths, wetlands, carousels, and more. New Jersey CAN have a transformed waterfront in Bayonne & Elizabeth, similar to the transformation at Hudson River Park. The improvements would draw new residents and boost the local economies. Not to mention all the happy kids on bikes! Well designed investments in local communities is government's most important job. With Christie's shady deal, he has not only lost today's compensation, but also the opportunity to greatly improve the economic future of New Jersey.
21
Is Christie really delusional enough to believe that he has a chance of being elected President?
5
One question - Can Christie be impeached/removed from office by some legislative means? Isn't it about time?
14
This should be added to the long list of corrupt actions taken by the Christie administration by the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.
Certainly looks like a double quid pro quo: Exon makes a half million dollar contribution through Christie and then gets this deal in return and the deal in turn gives Christie (he hopes) $250 million to close a $1.5 billion hole in the state budget caused by this miserable miscreant in his governance of NJ.
Certainly looks like a double quid pro quo: Exon makes a half million dollar contribution through Christie and then gets this deal in return and the deal in turn gives Christie (he hopes) $250 million to close a $1.5 billion hole in the state budget caused by this miserable miscreant in his governance of NJ.
10
This man, Christie, seems to have a knack for repeatedly engaging in unethical activity that falls just short of illegal. The Italians have a word for his type, cafone.
11
Loyal to his Republican/Plutocracy Creed.
Of a piece with McConnell's call for American Anarchy.
Galling is their audacity to spin these giveaways as a middle class benefit. As though the middle class are bottom feeders, not needing clean air and water and community infrastructure.
Of a piece with McConnell's call for American Anarchy.
Galling is their audacity to spin these giveaways as a middle class benefit. As though the middle class are bottom feeders, not needing clean air and water and community infrastructure.
9
"Former colleagues of mine in state government, where I served as commissioner of environmental protection from 2002 to 2006, have told me that Mr. Christie’s chief counsel inserted himself into the case, elbowed aside the attorney general and career employees who had developed and prosecuted the litigation, and cut the deal favorable to Exxon".
Christie has again shown is ugly immoral side. He is not a "public servant." He is uses his office only to enhance his career and burnish his reputation for higher office. The State of NJ and its citizens be damned.
Christie has again shown is ugly immoral side. He is not a "public servant." He is uses his office only to enhance his career and burnish his reputation for higher office. The State of NJ and its citizens be damned.
6
Expect a large donation to Christie's SuperPAC from Exxon. Oh yes, those donors are secret so we will never know.
5
One of the things on my bucket list is to see Chris Christie in jail.
14
How disgusting and pathetic. This started with his shutting down the needed tunnel to New York and the jobs and commerce it would have promoted. It has everything to do with no state health insurance exchange in NJ, tax breaks for his wealthy donors, his culture of conceit, our suffering economy with all kinds of infrastructure debility. This is meant as a serious comment. Christie has traded on kind of greed with his every expanding greed for power, position, personal fortune at the expense of those, meaning NJ citizens, that he purports to lead and serve. He is not even a clever example of a corrupt politician. He is simply and manipulatively corrupt, a textbook example of de Tocqueville's comments about power.
11
Is this legal. Do the people of NJ have no recourse?
7
It almost sounds as if this could be a criminal matter. If nothing else, the role of governor should be redefined to NOT include the power to settle lawsuits with a wave of the hand!
7
Folks, you are missing the point. With the state falling deeper and deeper into a hole all Exxon had to say was "We're closing operations in NJ because of the hostile environmental regulations" Of course the Christie administration would be falling all over itself to avoid losing even more jobs and enduring another credit downgrade. Money is power folks. The state ain't got it so the state ain't got the power. Exxon can fight in the courts to infinity and beyond. This is a face saving effort... sort of like standing tall after you've had your face pushed into the mud by the local bully.
2
RT1, you are missing a point, too. We The People shall not be held hostage to corporate malfeasance and extortion. If they want to threaten the people who graciously hosted their operations with picking up their refinery and just going home . . . wait a minute, it is not that easy to just pick up your refinery and go home.
6
No, but it's real easy to shift operations to another location and close down a refinery. Ask Philadelphia. BP and Sunoco both pulled out of their respective refineries a few years back leaving a whole lot of people unemployed. Fortunately for some of the workers, the refinery operations resumed when buyers were found for the facilities. You might think that a refinery is too much of an investment to walk away from. For Exxon it would be the monetary equivalent of you or me junking an old car. I'm afraid "We the People" are extorted every day, if not by corporate malfeasance than by a negligent government. In this case both.
3
The tourist industry brought a lot of business into New Jersey at one time too. A lot of young people paid off their college bills with summer employment at the shore. When environmental damage causes a few more Sandy's to blow away more homes, beaches and boardwalks, and the casinos tanking, tourists won't have much reason to spend their money in New Jersey. The scenery in parts of the state along the Turnpike has always been a joke, only suited as a site for tossing mob victims. Now the Governor has said it is OK to turn the rest of the state into an oily swamp.
6
Exxon could shift operations, research, new business lines and much employment to other facilities around the county. One big fine (payday for NJ) could be offset by lost tax revenue and employment forever. State regulations have chased much business expansion to other places. The settlement may be best for NJ long term.
So New Jersey should give up scientifically based legal penalties needed for environmental restoration due to hypothetical counter moves by the perpetrator? That argument is far-fetched and cowardly.
What will be good for NJ in the long term is the same as what will be good for the planet in the long term, namely, the end of the fossil fuel industries and the cleanup of the toxic filth that they have spread across our habitat.
What will be good for NJ in the long term is the same as what will be good for the planet in the long term, namely, the end of the fossil fuel industries and the cleanup of the toxic filth that they have spread across our habitat.
8
Doesn't the court have the power to review this travesty? If the judge in this matter accepts this 3% solution, we will see the full extent of NJ corruption. So glad I live in CA!
5
With this ruling Christie shows that he has never been on the side of the people of New Jersey. He claims that the state has little money to take care of its employees or improve its infrastructure then turns around and gives a sweet heart deal to its biggest polluter. What would he do if he became President. Scary..
12
He's been toast for a while.
2
There is no surprise that money influences politics. This is everywhere, not just in NJ. I believe that politicians no longer server the people who elected them.
5
The sad thing is, I have a feeling the people who voted for Christie really don't care about this issue at all.
10
You get the sense that Chris Christie adopted a little too much of the style of those he prosecuted for corruption during his tenure as US Attorney for New Jersey. Maybe, as they say, it takes one to know one.
7
At least he learned from some of the best!
1
Schadenfreude Justice: a jury of pigs, sorry, meant peers, convicts Christie of corruption. Sentence: life in a crate, sorry, meant prison.
2
Any semblance of being a "peoples' governor," as Christie likes to project himself as being, is totally silly. Mr. Christie is done. Stick a fork in him (but keep your distance from the hot air).
If they dig a little deeper, they're going to find something really bad about this demagogue. His hands aren't clean.
If they dig a little deeper, they're going to find something really bad about this demagogue. His hands aren't clean.
9
It's sad to see a public servant misbehave in such a gross manner - but even with the full award, the Governor's tenure would amount to a bunch of crooked deals in my eyes. There's nothing excellent about the man or his cronies.
8
This dimished settlement amount reeks more than the exxon stench in northern new jersey. This hopefully will not be accepted by the presiding judge. If it is, its time to get christie out of new jersey and politics for good.
13
Here is another man who willl sell his state, country and soul for naked political ambition. But sadly, he is one of many.
Mr. Christie has shown time and again that he will do anything to achieve real or perceived political objectives. Since he has become the governor of a blue state, his sole objective has been to show how red is he to "his" national republican constituency. Disrespecting unions, especially public unions, creating unnecessary pension fund deficits, being rude to the common folk, exacting revenge on "non-cooperative" democratic mayors. The list goes on and on. And now, this. What better way to show the gods of political largesse, the Koch brothers, that he will look out for them when he becomes president, than to just give Exxon a slap of the wrist.
Had the state receive clean up money and punititive damages, they would not only have been able to clean the wetlands, but also partially fund the pension deficit that the state needs to do so badly. But no! Mr. Christie is willing to sacrifice his state to which he owes a fiduciary duty on the alter of donation gods. He will make a great republican candidate for presidency.
Mr. Christie has shown time and again that he will do anything to achieve real or perceived political objectives. Since he has become the governor of a blue state, his sole objective has been to show how red is he to "his" national republican constituency. Disrespecting unions, especially public unions, creating unnecessary pension fund deficits, being rude to the common folk, exacting revenge on "non-cooperative" democratic mayors. The list goes on and on. And now, this. What better way to show the gods of political largesse, the Koch brothers, that he will look out for them when he becomes president, than to just give Exxon a slap of the wrist.
Had the state receive clean up money and punititive damages, they would not only have been able to clean the wetlands, but also partially fund the pension deficit that the state needs to do so badly. But no! Mr. Christie is willing to sacrifice his state to which he owes a fiduciary duty on the alter of donation gods. He will make a great republican candidate for presidency.
7
Follow the money. . . . It is impossible to not believe that Mr. Christie doesn't think that the money he foregoes on this front end won't be coming to him on the back end as he runs for the Presidency. He probably doesn't believe in global warming or climate change or that smoking can cause cancer or that being downwind or down stream from the corporate garbage disposal is not good for one's health. The citizens of NJ have been ill served by this man and if the right wing SCOTUS have their say they won't have health insurance to help them either. What a country! What on earth do those who don't vote think they are accomplishing?
6
I hope the judge denies the settlement because it's grossly insufficient. ( Just as in the NFL concussion case. )
It's sad that the state legislature has been unable to overcome a Christie veto that forces the majority of the money to go to the general fund instead of repairing the environmental damages it is intended to fix.
It's sad that the state legislature has been unable to overcome a Christie veto that forces the majority of the money to go to the general fund instead of repairing the environmental damages it is intended to fix.
4
I'm guessing we will be seeing a flood of "Christie 2016" bumper stickers and other campaign paraphernalia on eBay very very soon.
5
I am not o fan of Christie and won't dare say anything negative about this partisan hit piece in hopes of avoiding censorship. Great job!
Is a Christie impeachment a realistic possibility? Why is that never mentioned?
10
Since the voters of New Jersey elected Gov. Christie, and it's the voters of New Jersey who will suffer from the Governor's intervention in this settlement, it would appear that karma does indeed function, albeit often more slowly than most of us would like.
I can't wait for the first opportunity for someone to ask the Gov about this sweetheart deal, and for the Gov to go Full Christie and tell the arrogant punk who would have the temerity to question his judgement to sit down and shut up...
I can't wait for the first opportunity for someone to ask the Gov about this sweetheart deal, and for the Gov to go Full Christie and tell the arrogant punk who would have the temerity to question his judgement to sit down and shut up...
8
Not all of us voted for Chris Christie. Moreover, the wildlife that will be harmed by this settlement never had a say in the matter.
7
Five brief points:
1. I know from personal experience that the author, Bradley M. Campbell, is a genuine environmentalist.
2. Exxon played a lead role in turning parts of Bayonne and Bayway, once beautiful places, into industrial wastelands.
3. Why does Mr. Christie want to take money intended for environmental remediation and put it into the general state coffers? (Three guesses.)
4. I decided long ago not to allow myself to be shocked or offended when someone acts the way I know he will act. In this case, the Governor of NJ treats the State of NJ pretty much the way King Leopold II treated the Belgian Congo: as his.
5. Stop this appalling deal for the land and people of New Jersey.
1. I know from personal experience that the author, Bradley M. Campbell, is a genuine environmentalist.
2. Exxon played a lead role in turning parts of Bayonne and Bayway, once beautiful places, into industrial wastelands.
3. Why does Mr. Christie want to take money intended for environmental remediation and put it into the general state coffers? (Three guesses.)
4. I decided long ago not to allow myself to be shocked or offended when someone acts the way I know he will act. In this case, the Governor of NJ treats the State of NJ pretty much the way King Leopold II treated the Belgian Congo: as his.
5. Stop this appalling deal for the land and people of New Jersey.
16
No wonder Mitt Romney's team did a quick exit when vetting Chris Christie as a possible VP candidate in 2012. The guy has more baggage than an Airbus A380. He's going to "fight hard for the American taxpayer" over the next two years? My guess is, he'll be fighting hard to avoid prosecution instead.
11
Republican Supreme Court says it cannot see any corruption associated with campaign contributions (hence Citizens United). This group needs to be impeached. But uh, then the Republican Congress won't do it. and we can't impeach the Congress. Sorry, bye bye democracy.
4
We shouldn't be surprised. He made the mayor of Fort Lee an offer he couldn't refuse on a bridge. And he diverted money for a tunnel to bailing out his failed economic promises. So, he has his chief counsel settle for pennies on the dollar to bail out more failed economic policies.
Next comes the refrain "I only work for the people of New Jersey" -- plus pig farmers in Iowa
Next comes the refrain "I only work for the people of New Jersey" -- plus pig farmers in Iowa
6
Remember too how he aborted the federal funds for helping commuters in 1st term. He wanted to be part of the movement among many twisted republican local heroes to refuse any role to the Feds even if it would clearly & hugely benefit the people. Not only did he turn down $400mm he has had to return $250mm of it--which he hasn't done. So sacrificing nj for benefit of his own ambition is nothing new to him. Of course the Exxon cAse dwarfs this one. ... Keep digging, folks--& don't be surprised if we find some in his own pockets.
2
Amazing how a governor can be worshiped the first term and be considered worthy of lynching the second. If Chris Christie isn't an outright crook, he comes as close to it as you can get. Well, at least his position as consultant to Exxon is assured.
5
The truth is Christie been a really bad Governor for the state of New Jersey. Billions of tax breaks given to business and no job growth to speak of . Of course some of those billions came at the cost of education. His fiscal policies are a disaster, over estimating budgets leading to shortages in capital. The states bond rating dropped many times. He is anti environment, gay marriage, abortion, any any other things that Liberals like here in New Jersey. So how you ask did he get elected twice in this blue state. Ah there in lies a tale.
The answer is Taxes, Property Taxes to be specific. There is no other state where they are so high. People in this most taxed state in the country just hate them. Now New jersey is Blue but the suburbs are not. Christie won his first election promising he would reduce Property Taxes. He basically ran against Corzine on this alone. The heavily Republican counties of Bergen, Monmouth, Ocean voted 90% for him. This countered the Democratic strongholds where the cities are. Christie won a close race by a few percentage points. Same thing happened 2nd time. Of course the Democrats to their disgrace, obeying the political bosses, gave him a free pass and no help to Bruno. Who probably would have been a better governor.
We here in Jersey hate Property taxes so much we elected him twice in the hope he could do it. but you know what, he could not. My taxes have gone up every year. He failed at that to. Just to be fair I never voted for him.
The answer is Taxes, Property Taxes to be specific. There is no other state where they are so high. People in this most taxed state in the country just hate them. Now New jersey is Blue but the suburbs are not. Christie won his first election promising he would reduce Property Taxes. He basically ran against Corzine on this alone. The heavily Republican counties of Bergen, Monmouth, Ocean voted 90% for him. This countered the Democratic strongholds where the cities are. Christie won a close race by a few percentage points. Same thing happened 2nd time. Of course the Democrats to their disgrace, obeying the political bosses, gave him a free pass and no help to Bruno. Who probably would have been a better governor.
We here in Jersey hate Property taxes so much we elected him twice in the hope he could do it. but you know what, he could not. My taxes have gone up every year. He failed at that to. Just to be fair I never voted for him.
5
Corzine and his poor formance as a Democratic governor had even more to do with Christie being elected like in national elections msny voters think voting for the other party will bring a different and better result. But time snd time again it proves worse. Look at our Congress now aftet two midterm elections!
Many voters vote with emotions and what they hear in media and do little investigation on their own. So what happens? - we get even worse! We know Republicans are for big business and the rich and have no idea how to govern.
Many voters vote with emotions and what they hear in media and do little investigation on their own. So what happens? - we get even worse! We know Republicans are for big business and the rich and have no idea how to govern.
As despicable an act as this is and with as many voices concurrent, how is it possible that it has arrived where it has? Is there a voice from the other side with any semblance of explanation? I'd love to hear it!
2
Watch Christie after his political life ends; 10-1 says he ends up working for Exxon in some form or fashion. What a crook.
5
Christie is simply a political hack.
4
As Governor of NJ Chris Christie is a complete failure and a fraud.
5
Not to judge on appearances, but CC has no self discipline.
1
“Jersey strong”. Isn’t that what we have been reminded of since Hurricane Sandy? Governor Christie’s actions did nothing to reinforce the strength, beauty, and ecological stability of NJ. We so easily forget that economic development depends on the health of our natural resources. Christie's actions were cowardly and a slap in the face to NJ residents. Actually, it was a slap in the face to the East Coast. He is anything but “Jersey strong”.
6
Christie is just a louder version of Cuomo. Two third rate politicians that in another life would have been "gangsters". Christie with his intimidating extortion like style and Cuomo with his seedy backroom, double cross deals.
Neither have the interest of the public at heart.
Cuomo hasn't yet accounted for his disbanded "moreland commission" the one that probably exposed Silver but Cuomo decided to keep under wraps.
Enough about Cuomo. Christie should not get away with the decision to settle for so little. Make him accountable for his actions.
Let us see why he turned down money that was owed to New Jersey. Answer that logic....
Neither have the interest of the public at heart.
Cuomo hasn't yet accounted for his disbanded "moreland commission" the one that probably exposed Silver but Cuomo decided to keep under wraps.
Enough about Cuomo. Christie should not get away with the decision to settle for so little. Make him accountable for his actions.
Let us see why he turned down money that was owed to New Jersey. Answer that logic....
2
Chris Christie's administration is fond of money, as is any other organization with a budget. So what would have led such people to fore-go a budgetary payoff on this level? Christie could have bought a lot of political good will toward a POTUS race in New Jersey with that money.
So to do something THAT pro-active and aggressively AWAY from adding money to the coffers (while ordinary cops have to shake down people for fines and tickets to keep their budgets up), speaks volumes.
It had to have been very worth someone's while to take such a step, knowing how blatantly corrupt it would look, even just on the face of it. And when I say worth someone's while, I mean that somewhere, some account balance is a lot bigger, to the tune of what was denied the NJ coffers. Somebody got a decent payoff from this travesty. The question is, whom?
So to do something THAT pro-active and aggressively AWAY from adding money to the coffers (while ordinary cops have to shake down people for fines and tickets to keep their budgets up), speaks volumes.
It had to have been very worth someone's while to take such a step, knowing how blatantly corrupt it would look, even just on the face of it. And when I say worth someone's while, I mean that somewhere, some account balance is a lot bigger, to the tune of what was denied the NJ coffers. Somebody got a decent payoff from this travesty. The question is, whom?
2
New Jersey, you have no one to blame but yourselves.
Chris Christie won the 2009 gubernatorial election fair and square, garnering 48.46 percent of the vote. Four years later, running on his "track record," he received a whopping 60.3 percent of the vote, representing an increase of 24.43 percent. In other words, after four years of being governor, Christie received 124 votes in 2013 for every 100 votes he received in 2009. If this does not constitute a ringing endorsement of the man and his style of governance on a state-wide basis, it's a little difficult to conceive of what would.
I was born and raised in New Jersey. But candor compels me to acknowledge that Christie was twice elected by the people of New Jersey, the second time by a landslide. To turn away from this fact blinks reality.
Elections have consequences.
Chris Christie won the 2009 gubernatorial election fair and square, garnering 48.46 percent of the vote. Four years later, running on his "track record," he received a whopping 60.3 percent of the vote, representing an increase of 24.43 percent. In other words, after four years of being governor, Christie received 124 votes in 2013 for every 100 votes he received in 2009. If this does not constitute a ringing endorsement of the man and his style of governance on a state-wide basis, it's a little difficult to conceive of what would.
I was born and raised in New Jersey. But candor compels me to acknowledge that Christie was twice elected by the people of New Jersey, the second time by a landslide. To turn away from this fact blinks reality.
Elections have consequences.
5
Seems that all the republican high rollers are going to support Jeb Bush, so this is a desperate attempt to get some campaign dollars to bankroll a Christie candidacy. That ship has sailed and this tactic, so obvious it is hard to believe that an elected sitting governor would have the cohones and do this in the light of day. But we are talking about Chris Christie. In a just and fair world, Christie would be headed to prison and nowhere near 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
5
Since Christie now has a snowballs chance in hell about becoming a viable candidate for any future elected office, he used his mob like chain of command to ensure him a job as a lobbyist. He has sold his soul to the devil and is so enraptured by Kochville and its benefits that it it is now every man for himself. I hope this gets overturned and investigated. Christie has now elevated politics into the lead spot as the worlds oldest profession.
19
Christie and co. must be calculating that the settlement will get much needed cash in the state's coffers--in time for him to patch the growing holes in his budget-- and his political ambitions. A bigger settlement would be tied up in litigation for another few years. Inconvenient timeline for the Big Man following his dream...
8
Is the court accepting this disgraceful deal?
15
I'd like someone to explain how Christie has the authority to settle this case on his own. Can a governor just come in and force a settlement in any case that is working its way through the legal process? Talk about overreach.
19
Excellent article. My question is how New Jersey can ask that the settlement be sealed? How often does the government prosecute a corporate defendant polluting public lands and waterways, and then settle the case in secrecy to avoid that same public from knowing how that corporation is being held accountable.
22
Gov. Christie's actions, as they become exposed, make his administration join the ranks of total corruption--there's a good word for this, coprocracy (government of excrement)--together with other such looters as Putin.
14
A friend once had dinner at the house of an Exxon lawyer. And the lawyer went on to boast over dinner how he had kept the company from paying damages for the great Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska that destroyed entire habitats.
Exxon is a company (It is NOT a person) run by people blinded by greed who care nothing about the consequences of their actions as long as the profits remain high. And because we live in a plutocracy that allows those lawyers and corporate executives to have their way we will just continue to watch our habitat get increasingly poisoned.
Our one little jab can be to boycott all Exxon/Mobile products. I urge readers to do just that. And spread the word.
Exxon is a company (It is NOT a person) run by people blinded by greed who care nothing about the consequences of their actions as long as the profits remain high. And because we live in a plutocracy that allows those lawyers and corporate executives to have their way we will just continue to watch our habitat get increasingly poisoned.
Our one little jab can be to boycott all Exxon/Mobile products. I urge readers to do just that. And spread the word.
32
I haven't put Exxon or Mobil gas in my cars since the Valdez spill. Hasn't hurt 'em much, but I haven't noticed the inconvenience either.
8
As the saying goes, people in a democracy get the government they deserve. As Mencken expanded it, "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." Congrats, NJ.
7
The actions of Mr. Christie's chief counsel border on criminal. Mr. Fishman please convene a federal grand jury investigation into this matter. Ask the FBI and IRS-CI to set the dogs loose. How much did Mr. Chief Counsel receive his generous deal with Exxon. This is a disgrace of the highest order. What really should happen is a thorough investigation of Mr. Christie and allies should be undertaken. IF you cannot do it or are unwilling to do so, lets appoint a special prosecutor. God knows what they will find. Now you know why my name is disgusted!!
15
"The administration has so far refused to release the text of the agreement"
What ??? Exceptions to disclosure under public records law are very, very narrow (as they should be) and would not/ should not apply to any judicially approved settlement agreement to which the government is a signatory. The public pays Christie's salary. I think he forgot who he works for.
What ??? Exceptions to disclosure under public records law are very, very narrow (as they should be) and would not/ should not apply to any judicially approved settlement agreement to which the government is a signatory. The public pays Christie's salary. I think he forgot who he works for.
13
Christie knows very well who he works for. Unfortunately, it's not the people of New Jersey.
6
This needs to be investigated by the feds.
16
The news isn't that Chris Christie is corrupt, or that he is incompetent - even at corruption. Really, is anyone surprised? The real story is what is New Jersey going to do about this lousy deal for them. Roll over, or take responsibility for your government and fight.
17
Governor Christie's administration looks very much like a revival of Tammany Hall. The best government that money can buy.
And the poor residents of New Jersey pick up the tab; not only in dollars but in wastelands that won't be restored and mar the natural beauty of the "Garden State" that once resembled its slogan.
And the poor residents of New Jersey pick up the tab; not only in dollars but in wastelands that won't be restored and mar the natural beauty of the "Garden State" that once resembled its slogan.
14
Immediately subpoena any correspondence between the governor's office and Exxon. They'll probably find nothing, but you never know.
12
He will not be nominated and in the bizarre event he is nominated he will not be elected. Had he not been appointed Attorney General in New Jersey he would not have risen to Governor which happened because the people of New Jersey could not stand Jon Corzine.
Soon the belligerent detestable oaf will be out of the picture.
http://newworldhorsdoeuvres.com
Soon the belligerent detestable oaf will be out of the picture.
http://newworldhorsdoeuvres.com
14
Jabba the Christie will never be elected to a national office. New Jersey can keep him. I miss the Sopranos. Updates on his governing make up for it.
8
We in New Jersey don't want him either.
5
Once again New Jersey's governor puts his presidential ambitions ahead of the people he was elected to serve. I would contend he has a fiduciary duty to his constituents. His actions should be grounds for impeachment.
28
What really is at the crux of the matter is the lack of reality and facts which the voters of New Jersey consciously chose when they voted Christie in. They are getting what they deserve for such an unvetted, poorly considered decision. Beyond that, anyone who would support him for the Presidency should have their right to vote rescinded for not being responsible enough to research the facts on him before making the decision to support him. The fault is in the process which voters use or don't use to make important decisions like choosing a governor. If the citizens don't take their voting responsibilities seriously, then they deserve the disservice by Christie that they voted for. The very fact the he is still pursuing the Presidency of the United States in light of all his self interested decisions should be an "in your face" moment for anyone contemplating supporting him.
16
If we're going to rescind the voting rights of people who voted for Christie then why not the people who keep for the infamous tax cheat Charlie Rangle? or any of the other incompetents who populate the Capitol Building of the federal and stat governments.
The people of Jersey voted him into office. They are now paying the price. More to come.
16
Until we see the text of the agreement, we won't know whether or not any of this deal is tax deductible-- another trick that would cut down the cost for Exxon, pretty significantly. It's already common practice to include such deductions in settlements-- that way, corporations save money while regulators still get to tout bigger numbers. Taxpayers, of course, are the ones losing multiple times over.
95
In spite of giving away the farm to Exxon, Gov Christie does not have a snowball chance in Hell of winning the election. But he will have Exxon's donation to help. There has to be a paper trail before it is finished. He sold out his state to help himself and the winner is: Exxon as usual.
12
Dare I say it... impeach Christie.
24
The use of the word ..settlement..seems inappropriate in this case. It smells more like..politically-armed robbery. Christie/Exxon are blatantly robbing both New Jersey residents and the part of the planet infested by toxins.
17
Exxons current annual profit is about $30 billion. It will take them three days to pay this fine ($250 million).
Their market cap (value of the company) is $366 billion.
Obviously, something corrupt happened that we'll probably never know about.
Their market cap (value of the company) is $366 billion.
Obviously, something corrupt happened that we'll probably never know about.
14
A few more minutes many be needed if you include the vig or pac donations
His tactics started from the beginning and have not changed. He won a 1994 race for Freeholder by running an add that was a lie - 400 times. He was sued for libel and lost. He had to put an ad in the paper. Here is what it said:
“I recognize that a person who saw or read these advertisements could well have concluded that you have been engaged in some criminal activity or other wrongdoing in connection with your carrying out the duties of your Office,” he wrote. “This simply was not the case.”
That is his MO. Do want he wants, get Exxon to like him (and give money to him, GOP PACs, etc.) and the GOP primary voters to vote for his pro corporate, anti-environment, free market stance, and worry about the rest later. He won't be in NJ later to suffer the consequences. He doesn't care. He only wants to win.
“I recognize that a person who saw or read these advertisements could well have concluded that you have been engaged in some criminal activity or other wrongdoing in connection with your carrying out the duties of your Office,” he wrote. “This simply was not the case.”
That is his MO. Do want he wants, get Exxon to like him (and give money to him, GOP PACs, etc.) and the GOP primary voters to vote for his pro corporate, anti-environment, free market stance, and worry about the rest later. He won't be in NJ later to suffer the consequences. He doesn't care. He only wants to win.
16
Christie is no good. Anyone who thinks otherwise is delusional and deserves what they get, like turds on the dollar. People like Christie are guilty of crimes against the state and humanity. Until these betrayals are publicly ridiculed and severely punished the Christies of the world will continue to flush the clogged toilet in everybody else's house while they stay dry.
6
Yet another illustration of Christie joining the pantheon of crooked "public servants" marching to the 6/8 cadence of Mr. Richard Nixon.
6
A large award from the judge would have been appealed by Exxon - their entire strategy has been to delay, delay, and delay some more. From Christie's perspective, $250MM now, to balance his budget, is better than billions later, which would merely help balance somebody else's. What's good for NJ isn't part of the calculation.
5
Not to worry, NJ is flush. Oh, wait: Christie has muli-billion dollar public pension payments to make at judicial gunpoint. Better to take care of poor Exxon Mobil at a time of low crude oil prices than to make good on his promises to NJ's rapacious public employees. Christie is beginning to make me appreciate Wisconsin's anti-Union, education slashing Governor Walker. NJ: he's all yours.
11
Think of all the ways New Jersey could use that $9Billion! I hope the judge does the right thing.
12
Christie has proven to be bad for NJ. Transparency of his tactics and policies have demonstrated to anyone who thinks for themselves that he is a phony.
6
New Jersey was an important industrial state, but also a convenient dumping ground. That is why we have more SuperFund environmental clean up sites than any other.
Like many states, we have largely de-industrialized, with many fewer middle class manufacturing jobs, while much of the sad environmental legacy has yet to be dealt with.
Chris Christie was never up to the actual job of being Governor, quick wit and loud mouth notwithstanding. He has demonstrated no grasp of how to bring prosperity back--we consistently rank toward the bottom in job creation and economic growth. In his pronouncements, our state environmental laws and policies made things worse, even as most of us realize that the poisons left by decades of environmental abuse still need to be cleaned up.
This is what the Exxon lawsuit was about and that is why Governor Christie intervened.
Christie's statewide popularity has plummeted, as residents realize he spends most of his time running for President. His viability was largely the fantasy of billionaire donors who love the tough talk aimed at public workers and ordinary citizens, but who now see that he has accomplished nothing.
While it is good that his national prospects have dimmed significantly, we in New Jersey, sadly, will have to put up with him until his term finally expires at the end of 2017.
At least there are now some limits on what further damage Mr. Christie can do.
Like many states, we have largely de-industrialized, with many fewer middle class manufacturing jobs, while much of the sad environmental legacy has yet to be dealt with.
Chris Christie was never up to the actual job of being Governor, quick wit and loud mouth notwithstanding. He has demonstrated no grasp of how to bring prosperity back--we consistently rank toward the bottom in job creation and economic growth. In his pronouncements, our state environmental laws and policies made things worse, even as most of us realize that the poisons left by decades of environmental abuse still need to be cleaned up.
This is what the Exxon lawsuit was about and that is why Governor Christie intervened.
Christie's statewide popularity has plummeted, as residents realize he spends most of his time running for President. His viability was largely the fantasy of billionaire donors who love the tough talk aimed at public workers and ordinary citizens, but who now see that he has accomplished nothing.
While it is good that his national prospects have dimmed significantly, we in New Jersey, sadly, will have to put up with him until his term finally expires at the end of 2017.
At least there are now some limits on what further damage Mr. Christie can do.
12
well NJ - you voted for him - twice - WHY?
he talks tough but carries toothpicks.
he talks tough but carries toothpicks.
4
Simple, same reason Whitman won when she had no prior political history and then sunk the state into debt - a great political machine to win elections. Christie won after ousting several urban elected officials, relying on the praise of being the great crusader. New Jersey has a lot of old school city boss politics, where the black and union and democratic votes are found, in the suburbs are the more affluent and republican votes. Obama won big when those urban centers brought out their votes, and should the same thing have happened in Christie's first election maybe Christie would not have had such a great chance to win the gubernatorial election. But shortly before Christie's run he made the sweeping investigation that prosecuted these officials from New Jersey's largest cities, and won the accolades of being the man who will fight corruption. Christie wasn't fighting corruption, but ensuring his election. And that is how he won the first time.
The second time was just good fortune, he was governor when New Jersey got hit by Sandy. Just like Bush 2 became a hero because the Untied States was attacked while he was president (Isn't his job to prevent something like that from happening?), Christie became a hero because his state suffered a catastrophe. And now we have him for Governor.
The second time was just good fortune, he was governor when New Jersey got hit by Sandy. Just like Bush 2 became a hero because the Untied States was attacked while he was president (Isn't his job to prevent something like that from happening?), Christie became a hero because his state suffered a catastrophe. And now we have him for Governor.
2
Private profits and public losses. So who's going to foot the cleanup bill? You, taxpayers of NJ. Remember that the next time you want to complain about a public worker. They're not the problem. Don't fall for the divide and conquer.
8
I live in NJ and I am not surprised by this at all. Christie wanted fracking waste from PA dumped in NJ and he wanted a gas pipeline to run through our heavily populated state. He is a true anti-environment Republican and corrupt and greedy as it gets. So glad I didn't vote for him!
12
The greedy thieves who came around
And ate the flesh of everything they found
Whose crimes have gone unpunished now
Who walk the streets as free men now
They brought death to our hometown boys
Death to our hometown
-Bruce Springsteen
And ate the flesh of everything they found
Whose crimes have gone unpunished now
Who walk the streets as free men now
They brought death to our hometown boys
Death to our hometown
-Bruce Springsteen
13
The Board should fire Tillerson
1
By Chris Christie's chief counsel, does Bradley Campbell mean Christopher Porrino? Why is Porrino not named expressly? This backroom dealing by the Christie machine screams corruption. One of the ways we are going to deter such corruption is by naming, explicitly, the corrupt officials — the Christies and Porrinos — who sell our well-being to line their own pockets (politically or financially).
Then we can advance to criminal prosecutions of these modern Boss Tweeds.
And we are going to have to address why we the public are so willing to let executives, whether government like Chris Christie and Christopher Porrino, or private, like Jamie Dimon and Lloyd Blankfein, go without even naming them or their crimes.
Then we can advance to criminal prosecutions of these modern Boss Tweeds.
And we are going to have to address why we the public are so willing to let executives, whether government like Chris Christie and Christopher Porrino, or private, like Jamie Dimon and Lloyd Blankfein, go without even naming them or their crimes.
9
This is one of most transparent payoffs I think I have witnessed in my life.
Republicans are so desperate to win the presidency that they got Christie to sell out the people of NJ to Exxon.
$.03 on the dollar? Christie has lost all credibility, but the republicans have gained a very important and potent ally.
This is the embodiment of republican politics, not governing for the people but for the party and its national goals.
Republicans are so desperate to win the presidency that they got Christie to sell out the people of NJ to Exxon.
$.03 on the dollar? Christie has lost all credibility, but the republicans have gained a very important and potent ally.
This is the embodiment of republican politics, not governing for the people but for the party and its national goals.
18
Please remind me, when and how are we starting Christie impeachement/recall proceedings?
10
If I live long enough to see "Governor" Christie arrested and led away in handcuffs for his perp walk, I will die a happy man.
16
From the moment the NY Times originally broke this story, I said, "Follow the money". Someone close to Christie -- or CC himself -- is going to financially benefit from this deal. It stinks to high heaven.
While I agree with Mr. Campbell's op-ed, he states, "One would think that Mr. Christie would have kept his immediate political staff at a distance from these negotiations". The sad truth is that no, not many of us NJ residents would think that. Christie has shown his corrupt tendencies over and over again. Why would we expect him to change now?
While I agree with Mr. Campbell's op-ed, he states, "One would think that Mr. Christie would have kept his immediate political staff at a distance from these negotiations". The sad truth is that no, not many of us NJ residents would think that. Christie has shown his corrupt tendencies over and over again. Why would we expect him to change now?
147
Can we hope the judge will not approve the "settlement"?
156
Hoping that the judge can veto the "settlement" may be a vain hope, considering his history in Governor Whitman's policies towards environmental protection in this state.
Is it possible for the judge to reject a settlement agreed to by both parties?
1
I would not count on that, for the following reasons:
1) Judge Hogan previously worked as Legal Counselor to the CHristie Whitman DEP Commissioner, Bob Shinn. That DEP was strongly "Open For Business" and highly anti-regulatory.
2) I had 1 personal involvement with Mr. Hogan and his legal approach seemed influenced by a State's rights mentality with respect to the role of federal environmental law;
3) In just reading portions of the post trail legal briefs, Exxon was ripping the State DEP consultants and in house staff.
4) Prior NJ Superior Court and Appellate Court decisions have struck down DEP NRD settlement claims for similar reasons that Exxon now raises.
5
5) Since 2004, DEP has not abided by a commitment to adopt regulations to provide standard and methods for quantifying NRD and thereby constrain discretion and implement the program. Courts have rejected DEP NRD claims for failure to be based on promulgated regulations.
6) the $8.9 billion was a soft estimate, based on a vision and conceptual plan.
1) Judge Hogan previously worked as Legal Counselor to the CHristie Whitman DEP Commissioner, Bob Shinn. That DEP was strongly "Open For Business" and highly anti-regulatory.
2) I had 1 personal involvement with Mr. Hogan and his legal approach seemed influenced by a State's rights mentality with respect to the role of federal environmental law;
3) In just reading portions of the post trail legal briefs, Exxon was ripping the State DEP consultants and in house staff.
4) Prior NJ Superior Court and Appellate Court decisions have struck down DEP NRD settlement claims for similar reasons that Exxon now raises.
5
5) Since 2004, DEP has not abided by a commitment to adopt regulations to provide standard and methods for quantifying NRD and thereby constrain discretion and implement the program. Courts have rejected DEP NRD claims for failure to be based on promulgated regulations.
6) the $8.9 billion was a soft estimate, based on a vision and conceptual plan.
11
Here's another shocking piece of the story from a New York Times article on February 27, "If the settlement is completed, it is possible that some or even none of the money would go toward environmental costs in the Exxon case: An appropriations law in New Jersey allows money beyond the first $50 million collected in such cases in the current fiscal year to go toward balancing the state budget, a state fiscal analyst said." Good Old Boy, Christie, will do anything to the Good People of New Jersey to make himself look better. It's past time to eject him from the governor's mansion and all politics.
14
Did anyone really expect anything more from this model of political expediency-N.J. Boss style. At least, a traffic study, a bridge was not involved in this One. The carcinogens in the Meadowlands will be the burden of the N.J taxpayers who elected this sterling example of Governing Integrity.
7
What else would you expect from an individual who had Bernie Madoff as a client.
4
I grew up in "Jersey" and remember getting headaches after crew practice from rowing on the Passaic River, it was polluted beyond belief. Way to go Christie, sell everyone short so you can cover up your mismanagement.
8
...and you are worried about hillary clintons emails? this is a travesty, this makes it apparent that christie is as corrupt as a person can be. oh no, we don't need the money, give us less and when i ask you for a favor - give it to me. the sopranos played out in real life. the man is a corrupt transparent joke, except it isn't funny.
13
Let us not forget this sweetheart of a deal this summer when we visit NJ's renowned seashore. Let's remember how Christie-despite his faux sympathy for Sandy victims--once again put his own interests before that of the state and its environmental protection. It's downright despicable.
11
The fossil fuel business pollutes the earth, water, and air.
It corrupts the political process and contravenes the rule of law.
Christie's blocking of the rail tunnel to NYC and his absurd settlement with Exxon-Mobil resonate as two parts in the chorus of conservative/corporate collusion that:
Fails to invest in clean renewable energy collection,
Fails to address climate change,
Fails to improve transportation,
Fails to restore severely damaged natural resources,
Fails to invest in infrastructure projects that could create jobs,
Fails to provide affordable health care,
Fails to prevent wars,
Fails to prosecute war crimes,
Fails to see the facts of biology, geology, climatology, ecology, sociology, economics and science in general.
Yet voters fail to understand the damage that these venal ignoramuses are doing to our nation and the world. Add failure to educate half of the electorate to the list.
It corrupts the political process and contravenes the rule of law.
Christie's blocking of the rail tunnel to NYC and his absurd settlement with Exxon-Mobil resonate as two parts in the chorus of conservative/corporate collusion that:
Fails to invest in clean renewable energy collection,
Fails to address climate change,
Fails to improve transportation,
Fails to restore severely damaged natural resources,
Fails to invest in infrastructure projects that could create jobs,
Fails to provide affordable health care,
Fails to prevent wars,
Fails to prosecute war crimes,
Fails to see the facts of biology, geology, climatology, ecology, sociology, economics and science in general.
Yet voters fail to understand the damage that these venal ignoramuses are doing to our nation and the world. Add failure to educate half of the electorate to the list.
15
And what was the reason that Christie nixed the Rail Tunnel Project? It would cost the citizens of New Jersey money. And after that, the federal government investigated and discovered - there was no accounting showing any such loss. A Completely political decision protected by the statement "I will not allow NJ unfairly pay such a cost", now Christie is allowing Billions it would receive after winning a lawsuit be given as a gift to Exxon, and no statement to same as it is being done in backroom secrecy.
6
i guess our public servants no longer serve the public,their will, or their interest. Politicians have been privatized to serve their corporate masters. For companies like Exxon, Gov Christie is merely a line item on a expense report to conduct business in his state.
12
Knowing Christie, I would expect an under-the-table quid-pro-quo promise by Exxon to help fund his presidential campaign. What I don't understand is how he can do graft everywhere and everyhow, right out in the open, without prosecutors indicting him already.
7
Christie doesn't love New Jersey.
10
Isn't this why RICO was created? There's nothing new here. The Hunterdon County Prosecutors case should have raised flags but year after year Christie gets away it. The state is run like an ongoing criminal enterprise.
17
Christie is as crocked as a stick in the water. Please tell me this will be investigated.
9
Chris Christie is as corrupt as the day is long. $2 million of state money for a whitewash report on Bridgegate; $12 million for a special election to replace the deceased Frank Lautenberg just 2 weeks before the general election, just so he wouldn't have to share the spotlight with Cory Booker. Now billions given away to Exxon, even as he is complaining that he must shortchange the state's pension fund for want of money. All for his own self-promotion. Make no mistake: corruption in plain sight is corruption all the same.
280
There is no way Christie will become POTUS. Could he be feathering his nest after leaving office.
3
A half million dollar bribe to the Republican governors to save billions in environmental cleanup. That is quite a rate of return. The GOP is willing to prostitute itself so cheaply -- particularly when the service rendered is something involving the public good.
20
Good Old Boy, Christie. Always working for the people - the ones with the money who bought him his office. He probably plans to raise the gas tax so the little people can pick up the tab for Exxon's egregious behavior. Thanks to Rachel Maddow for fully reporting on this story a few nights ago and thanks to the democrats and other socially conscious politicians who are working to have this settlement thrown out. The judge can also refuse to accept this settlement and he should make it even higher than the $9+ Billion GOB Christie threw away.
48
Now that the Supreme Court has made it legal for corporations to give unlimited amounts to "nonprofits", in secret, to run ads that help politicians get elected, I wonder whether the CEO of Exxon promised Chris Christie tens of millions in funding for his presidential ambitions, in exchange for settling this suit for 3 cents on the dollar. The U.S. Supreme Court's GOP justices gave politicians license to, in effect, accept secret bribes, in the form of unlimited campaign cash to "nonprofits" that work to elect the candidate, so why shouldn't we assume that is what happened here?
The court's Citizen's United decision was a license for corruption in American government, and sweetheart deals to corporate America are a predictable result.
The court's Citizen's United decision was a license for corruption in American government, and sweetheart deals to corporate America are a predictable result.
24
Of course he knows that the settlement money will come back to his election campaign through Exxon's non-traceable payments. Just like corporate lobbying of government has by far the highest ROI of any company's expenditures, this trick is the most effective fund raising event possible.
This shows how the corporate-government system has been engineered to be a perfectly symbiotic, and separate, entity designed as a highly efficient extraction process.
No one cares about "optics" any more. Everyone is expected to lie and cheat and steal. And the more successful, the more status one achieves, short term optics problems are merely the cost of doing business.
This shows how the corporate-government system has been engineered to be a perfectly symbiotic, and separate, entity designed as a highly efficient extraction process.
No one cares about "optics" any more. Everyone is expected to lie and cheat and steal. And the more successful, the more status one achieves, short term optics problems are merely the cost of doing business.
2
Good point, the state of NJ should send a bill to the SCOTUS for the remainder of the cleanup.
3
The optics don't look bad; they are bad, terminal.
And not just here.
This is yet another symptom, not only of our pathetic politics, but literally the way our species, at the level of culture, interfaces with reality.
Redomaining is a term used by Brian Arthur in "The Nature of Technology." Redomaining is genuinely new tech rather than modification of existent tech.
Democracy redomained government from monarchy; eukaryote cells redomained cellular tech from prokaryote cells; electricity redomained energy generation from steam power, as steam power did for earlier technologies; etc.
Human knowledge doubles about every 13? months according to Ray Kurzweil; and we're still using the Constitution, democracy, monetary code, etc. We're still fighting a monarchy, not a king, but a "money monarchy".
And while I love this information, and other info provided by the NYT, in the larger, longer view, the Times is just another bit player in the game. We need to redomain how culture interfaces with reality, go beyond the inefficacy of democracy and monetary code for calibrating selectable relationship-hierarchies. Why? Because exponentially accelerating complexity has changed our natural selection test: genetic codes remain on the exam; culture codes have been added.
Otherwise, better pre-order coffins for your children and grandchildren because our current manner of reality-interface points to a mass die-off.
Chris Christie? I wouldn't let the guy be a Jr. High hall monitor.
And not just here.
This is yet another symptom, not only of our pathetic politics, but literally the way our species, at the level of culture, interfaces with reality.
Redomaining is a term used by Brian Arthur in "The Nature of Technology." Redomaining is genuinely new tech rather than modification of existent tech.
Democracy redomained government from monarchy; eukaryote cells redomained cellular tech from prokaryote cells; electricity redomained energy generation from steam power, as steam power did for earlier technologies; etc.
Human knowledge doubles about every 13? months according to Ray Kurzweil; and we're still using the Constitution, democracy, monetary code, etc. We're still fighting a monarchy, not a king, but a "money monarchy".
And while I love this information, and other info provided by the NYT, in the larger, longer view, the Times is just another bit player in the game. We need to redomain how culture interfaces with reality, go beyond the inefficacy of democracy and monetary code for calibrating selectable relationship-hierarchies. Why? Because exponentially accelerating complexity has changed our natural selection test: genetic codes remain on the exam; culture codes have been added.
Otherwise, better pre-order coffins for your children and grandchildren because our current manner of reality-interface points to a mass die-off.
Chris Christie? I wouldn't let the guy be a Jr. High hall monitor.
12
The fact that the Governor and his administration made this settlement with Exxon should surprise no one. In fact, it would have been shocking if there was any other result other than the settlement his administration negotiated in this case. What is sad and truly disturbing is that we elected this guy twice and the second time basically by acclamation as Democrats in this state turned their backs on Barbara Buono who would have been an excellent governor. We get the government we deserve, and until we start holding the people we elect accountable for their actions we can expect a continuation of ineffective, corrupt government.
31
So what I say!
The settlement appears bad of New Jersey and the people who live there who have to put up with the heavy polluters like Exxon, and yes a terrible snub to the career state employees doing their respective jobs.
But its absolutely wonderful for Conservatives who Gov. Christie wants to cater to while he seeks out a possible bid for the White House.
Not exactly sure what his positions are, but his would be supporters dislike government, dislike regulations, dislike Pres. Obama, have zero fear of nature or their fellow citizens, and will never be harmed by pollution, bad air, bad water, those are lies thought up by some Liberal.....
So, a deal like this is wonderful...campaign contributions all around, almost like if we pay for Gov. Christie's campaign he will personally close the EPA if elected.
Go Gov. Christie of West Virginia, oh my, New Jersey!
The settlement appears bad of New Jersey and the people who live there who have to put up with the heavy polluters like Exxon, and yes a terrible snub to the career state employees doing their respective jobs.
But its absolutely wonderful for Conservatives who Gov. Christie wants to cater to while he seeks out a possible bid for the White House.
Not exactly sure what his positions are, but his would be supporters dislike government, dislike regulations, dislike Pres. Obama, have zero fear of nature or their fellow citizens, and will never be harmed by pollution, bad air, bad water, those are lies thought up by some Liberal.....
So, a deal like this is wonderful...campaign contributions all around, almost like if we pay for Gov. Christie's campaign he will personally close the EPA if elected.
Go Gov. Christie of West Virginia, oh my, New Jersey!
7
If fines are the cost of doing business polluting the environment just got cheaper.
12
"While Mr. Christie’s eye has been on the presidency, his staff has traded away an opportunity to recover billions of dollars to restore natural resources damaged or destroyed by Exxon."
"While"? It was BECAUSE Mr. Christie’s eye is on the presidency. One has to prove favoritism with Big Oil to be a Republican president
"While"? It was BECAUSE Mr. Christie’s eye is on the presidency. One has to prove favoritism with Big Oil to be a Republican president
21
The judge must still approve the settlement. Let's hope he does the right thing and does not approve it.
30
I hope and pray you are right about that. The Judge should do the right thing something Christie has a hard time with. When will our cesspool system of politics change?
2
Mr. Christie may be the ring leader, but the entire coterie of cronies and opportunists that participate in his many documented abuses is just as accountable. He is the recognizable face of greed and self-interest that destroys the public's faith in their leaders and institutions while the stripped-clean carcass of our society lies in the wake.
15
I am sure this nails down his bonafides as a modern day "conservative", whatever that is and really means. It also puts a nail in the coffin of him being elected. Chris Christie is a fake, a fraud, a bully, and an opportunist. He glams onto celebrities that take a shower after hearing his name, and used his corpulent status to bully people, backed up by his security force. Why anyone would vote for a clown like him is a wonder, but hey, it's New Jersey, right?
35
Truly agree but you are too nice.
6
I have previously commented on this questionable settlement and will not repeat myself. However, I do take issue with the last statement of your comment (I note that you are from Nevada). While you are most certainly entitled to your opinions of Gov. Christie, the meaning of "conservative," and the bases of this so-called settlement, your mocking of the people of New Jersey is disrespectful and out of line. I have called New Jersey my home for 45 years and take great pride in the state. That politicians of both major parties have come bumbling along and not always acted in the best interests of the residents of New Jersey is not indicative of the citizenry. It is a sad symptom of the state of politics - and no state is immune. Attack Gov. Christie to your heart's content, but don't mock the people of New Jersey.
4
Exxon gave Christie a deal he couldn't refuse. You don't upset the family. If you do they might close down a bridge.
17
One of the problems with being a governor and then running for POTUS, is the fact that everything one does will be put under the microscope and examined from every angle.
If Christie has allowed this to happen, then those who are thinking him presidential material should either reconsider or they are in agreement with Exxon getting away with everything and the NJ taxpayer getting the shaft.
And the general public has a great view of how Christie would run the WH should he be voted as POTUS.
Frankly, I think he has the same chance of being POTUS as a snowball in a hot oven.
If Christie has allowed this to happen, then those who are thinking him presidential material should either reconsider or they are in agreement with Exxon getting away with everything and the NJ taxpayer getting the shaft.
And the general public has a great view of how Christie would run the WH should he be voted as POTUS.
Frankly, I think he has the same chance of being POTUS as a snowball in a hot oven.
21
Over $5 billion in tax breaks to business while refusing to respect the law and the court ruling to fund the pension fund. Christie's priorities and policies revolve around his political ambitions. After all, even if he is not president, he could do the bidding of Exxon and other corporate donors as attorney general.
7
Shame on Christie for this despicable act of cowardice and probably self inteerst to get campaign money from thisdisgraceful polluter. There should be no room for governance from people like him who clearly viloate our very environmental existence
6
Christie probably got an Exxon skybox opportunity to wear orange sweater & hug the 1%. Should have opportunity to wear orange jumpsuit in less comfortable digs. What stake in the heart will it take to get him off the stage?
14
I anxiously await his first question and response regarding this at a news conference.Wow, what a travesty.
5
Here now, thanks to the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, is our next candidate for President of the United States, Chris Christie, brought to you by ExxonMobil.
4
Even a poor person, of the class that Christie and his Republican cohorts despise, would know better than to settle a lawsuit for 3%.
6
As a NJ resident I never trusted this man.Never voted for him and now he's proving me 100% right.Can we start a recall process to get rid of him for good
19
Gov. Christie consistently acts the part of an adolescent. Or maybe a college frat boy, as most adolescents don't have his power and resources. Let's see: he loves a great party, no matter how much damage it leaves behind; he plays juvenile tricks on guys from gangs he doesn't like; and, most importantly, he does whatever the most influential member of his gang tells him to do.
Honestly, I saw this plot a hundred times on after-school made-for-tv specials. Usually it ends with the young man hanging his head in shame, promising to go better, while some paternal figure claps him on the back in encouragement. Let's hope Christie listens to Ward Cleaver before it's too late.
Honestly, I saw this plot a hundred times on after-school made-for-tv specials. Usually it ends with the young man hanging his head in shame, promising to go better, while some paternal figure claps him on the back in encouragement. Let's hope Christie listens to Ward Cleaver before it's too late.
6
Christie has never done anything in tis state that actually helped this state. He is a loud horrible greedy man with his own agenda. The sad part of all of this is that the people of the state of New Jersey actually elected this greedy fool in the first place. What were you thinking? I was born here 62 years ago and all I can think of lately is leaving this state and letting it collapse under its own weight.
15
Superior Court Judge Hogan held the months long bench hearing for this Exxon case and has yet to issue his opinion which needs to be heard because it is independent of the politically managed settlement.
You can expect a lot of pressure to withhold the Judge's opinion.
NYT needs to stay on top of these shenanigans. The expose is prize fodder for the right investigative reporter.
You can expect a lot of pressure to withhold the Judge's opinion.
NYT needs to stay on top of these shenanigans. The expose is prize fodder for the right investigative reporter.
21
The saddest thing about New Jersey is that Christie was re-elected after running a bar-lowering campaign in which he bought Democratic officials' endorsements. As a Democrat, I am still smoldering over the number of Democratic officials who backed Christie. Then we had "bridgegate" and now this! We have serious problems in the process and conduct of our elections which are run by a new "political campaign industry". Voters are not able to distinguish the "realies" from the "phonies". Voters are partly to blame for failure to vet them, but candidates bear the major blame for misrepresentation.
18
Not.one.positive.comment....CC is NOT "stronger than the storm." Maybe there's a career for him in acting.
5
This is just another of a long series of criminal conduct by Christie. From Bennet Barlyn, Pink Hulahoop , Misappropriated Sandy money, Verizongate, passing insider information to his brother Todd on the Harrison real estate deal, his hush money to Michele Brown. It really makes me wonder what the FBI and federal prosecutors are doing? A first year law student, hell a first year criminal justice major at a community college could of had Christie indicted and convicted. How long must the people suffer while the Justice department is slepping at the wheel?
22
New Jersey is not a "laboratory of democracy" as once contemplated by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis. It's a lab in which Chris Christie is cooking up the formula of his presidential ambitions.
The same can be said of Scott Walker and Wisconsin. Citizens are merely useful tools.
The same can be said of Scott Walker and Wisconsin. Citizens are merely useful tools.
21
Does that give a new meaning to lab rats?
3
So basically, Christie 2016 can't afford $9B Paid by Big Oil Player because when Christie passes around his begging bowl for the impending White House run, people with the deepest pockets would remember how he treated friends of theirs, how he didn't come to their aid in a time of need.
Were it not for how he intends to screw the state at large over this year and next with his White House ambitions, by doing what will reward him politically on a national scale, I'd say I look forward to seeing him run, all of his chess moves comeback to haunt him and those White House aspirations fall through like his ample frame standing on thin ice.
But far more seriously, I just wish the guy would resign already and run. Chris Christie sitting in the Statehouse does New Jersey no good. His decisions are all obviously calibrated by how they will affect 2016, not by how well the state and its residents, are served.
Were it not for how he intends to screw the state at large over this year and next with his White House ambitions, by doing what will reward him politically on a national scale, I'd say I look forward to seeing him run, all of his chess moves comeback to haunt him and those White House aspirations fall through like his ample frame standing on thin ice.
But far more seriously, I just wish the guy would resign already and run. Chris Christie sitting in the Statehouse does New Jersey no good. His decisions are all obviously calibrated by how they will affect 2016, not by how well the state and its residents, are served.
7
Anyone who had taken an objective look at his past- Stint as Federal Prosecutor, would never have supported him to become governor of the state. The man is corrupt and always has been!
25
Christie used his position as prosecutor for a preemptive raid, charging city bosses with corruption, and having those same city bosses deal with the charges instead of bringing out the union and black votes found in the urban centers. The same urban centers that brought out the vote in New Jersey for Obama. With those voters organizers in chaos, the suburban republican vote carried the day and Christie into office. Christie was not the crusader his political machine made him out to be, he was a political operative who knew how to use his federal position as prosecutor. Just as the inept Whitman won as political neophyte with the help of her father (Todd who helped Nixon in his presidential run), Christie won with the help of "General" David Samson.
Now we know who runs the country.
9
I hope you aren't surprised.
2
Does anyone really think that money loving grifter Christie has a chance at becoming President?
One would think that with an expansive physical presence like Christie's, there would be, at the very least, a fairly good sized bit of intelligence!
Alas!
One would think that with an expansive physical presence like Christie's, there would be, at the very least, a fairly good sized bit of intelligence!
Alas!
6
Gov. Christie has repeatedly demonstrated abject fealty to his donors and his monumentally outsized hubris at every critical juncture, leaving no doubt that his sole interest is in feathering his personal nest and furthering his political ambition. His interference in the prosecution of one of his political donors in Hunterdon County resulted in a lawsuit against the state by the highly acclaimed Prosecutor in that county, after Christie's A.G. absconded with all of the records from that case and was subsequently forced to return them by the judge overseeing that lawsuit. His shoddy, corrupt administration of the Hurricane Sandy recovery funds has assured that his family's personal interests are paid, and payola projects in areas untouched by the storm have been funded (e.g. Belleville, NJ), at the expense of thousands of actual victims. His budgetary oversight has been an outrage, and based upon nonsensical, unrealistic revenue projections, resulting in huge deficits; his breaching of his own highly touted ethics law has gutted state employees' pensions, yet again. When will the fallout from this mendacious, arrogant, foul-mouthed incompetent bully redound where it should, namely, his impeachment and removal from office, and final exit, Stage nowhere?
20
Who was the judge who approved the settlement? Did the judge have the discretion to refuse to approve it? Was the judge also on Christie's team?
Is the problem Christie, the judge or a system that restricts a judge's discretion to refuse to accept settlements that adversely affect the public?
Is the problem Christie, the judge or a system that restricts a judge's discretion to refuse to accept settlements that adversely affect the public?
1
It would be interesting to now try to track any money flowing from Exxon to Christie's campaign coffers. What with Citizens United, it may be impossible. But one can almost smell the scent of a money trail.
12
Watch for a plush board appointment for fatso once he gets rejected by the GOP. Exxon will still pay but it will be for trips and junkets for him and his family. Seeing how he eats, Exxon would have been better off paying the full penalty for the cleanup - at least there would have been an end in sight.
9
It's great to see how outraged people are over this obvious travesty but Exxon is laughing at our comments or, more depressingly , doesn't even care. Gasoline is a commodity and there are non Exxon gas stations everywhere you look. If enough people boycott their product maybe they will start to pay attention.
5
How can the contract w Exxon by kept secret given Open Records Acts? Maybe the judge won't approve the contract if he thinks the terms are onerous.
6
The real deal behind this "theft" would make a great movie.
What did it cost to buy a NJ gov.?
What did it cost to buy a NJ gov.?
13
According to this article, the going price is $8.9 billion.
2
I live in NJ and a friend of mine, who is a Legal Services lawyer, told me last week that a Republican he knows who works in the State government told him recently that Christie is absolutely the WORST governor they have seen, refuses to compromise on anything (apparently except for this Exxon deal), and they can't wait to get rid of him.
11
CHEAT THE CITIZENS AND LET THE CORPORATIONS OFF THE HOOK
Chris Christie, though he is 350 pounds of political toast, continues to demonstrate unequivocally, how his craven, extremist politics make him dangerous to the well-being of residents of New Jersey. Just imagine what a horrible mess he would make if he were elected President. Well the Teabaggers want to shut down government, to shrink it till it's so small that it will fit into a bathtub. And, according to Grover Norquist, Then to drown it. What beggars description is the mindset of politicians whose goal is not to govern, but to destroy government. Also, if Christie is playing so fast and loose with the environmental restoration of New Jersey, it is logical to assume that this is an example of his habitual style of governing. Except this time he was transparent, while in Bridgegate, he allegedly took some pains to cover his tracks. Tracks? Well it's take a strong sucessor of Christie to fill his shoes. But that person wlll have to scrape off a lot of mud first.
Chris Christie, though he is 350 pounds of political toast, continues to demonstrate unequivocally, how his craven, extremist politics make him dangerous to the well-being of residents of New Jersey. Just imagine what a horrible mess he would make if he were elected President. Well the Teabaggers want to shut down government, to shrink it till it's so small that it will fit into a bathtub. And, according to Grover Norquist, Then to drown it. What beggars description is the mindset of politicians whose goal is not to govern, but to destroy government. Also, if Christie is playing so fast and loose with the environmental restoration of New Jersey, it is logical to assume that this is an example of his habitual style of governing. Except this time he was transparent, while in Bridgegate, he allegedly took some pains to cover his tracks. Tracks? Well it's take a strong sucessor of Christie to fill his shoes. But that person wlll have to scrape off a lot of mud first.
10
It wouldn't be unfair for the electorate to tell Chris Christie to "Sit down and shut up, stupid!"
8
Oil baron money, Mormon-Communist Chinese money, Jewish Gambling money.
Christie knows you need two out of three to make a run through the Republican primaries. So far, he's got one.
Christie knows you need two out of three to make a run through the Republican primaries. So far, he's got one.
7
"While Christie was chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2014, "the group received $500,000 from Exxon and more from company employees. While this was not Exxon's first contribution to the group, this donation was made at a time when the New Jersey trial was pending."
Completely unethical; it should also be completely illegal.
Completely unethical; it should also be completely illegal.
28
Oh come now, Will, it's just free speech. Just ask the Roberts' court. Just like you or me giving $25. It's all the same. Their $500,000 is no different than our $25 one.
2
Exxon's investment[campaign donation] in Gov. Christie has paid off. Its business as usual in the Garden State.
16
Christie and his legal staff are probably shrewd enough to anticipate that the Judge may disapprove the negotiated settlement. But by anchoring the Judge's thinking with such a low settlement number, the Judge may be influenced to lower the number he has in mind even further from the 8.9 billion dollor anchor that the plaintiff's expert set at the high end.
5
Well, it seems fairly clear to me. No Republican candidate wants a record of "unsurpassed" environmental enforcement — it would send the wrong message to the people who really matter. This was a signal to big corporations who want special treatment that Mr. Christie is open for business.
21
Thanks.
Please give us the name of the judge and the party that nominated him or her to the judiciary.
Please give us the name of the judge and the party that nominated him or her to the judiciary.
1
Read the article again or learn how settlements work before you start to blame -- the judge had nothing to do with it. The parties alone can reach a settlement and the judge can approve (and he has not yet approved it). It was the governor's lawyer (not the NJ Attorney General) and Exxon who reached the settlement.
1
Were Christie still a viable candidate, such actions as making a cosy sweetheart deal with Exxon would deal a serious blow to his chances.
But as more and more sordid tales of corruption in the Garden State waft up to public view, they only confirm what NJ probably know by heart: christe is nothing more than a garden-variety thug and thief, turning NJ into one of the poorest run states in the union. Its state finances are in a shambles, the state's credit ratings destroyed, and citizens are left wondering: just think how much an Exxon fine of 8.9 billion could alleviate the states coffers and spare the state the cost of the cleanup.
Not to mention letting all oil companies to know that NJ is ripe for the plunder while Chrisie is in office.
But as more and more sordid tales of corruption in the Garden State waft up to public view, they only confirm what NJ probably know by heart: christe is nothing more than a garden-variety thug and thief, turning NJ into one of the poorest run states in the union. Its state finances are in a shambles, the state's credit ratings destroyed, and citizens are left wondering: just think how much an Exxon fine of 8.9 billion could alleviate the states coffers and spare the state the cost of the cleanup.
Not to mention letting all oil companies to know that NJ is ripe for the plunder while Chrisie is in office.
267
That money would have gone a long way toward covering the $1.7 billion shortfall in pension contributions that the state owes, too. http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/03/unions_to_sue_christie_over...
104
This bullied-through settlement will not work to reanimate the corpse that is now Christie's presidential ambitions. The GOP "base" will not go for him, and the funders would prefer Jeb Bush, totally ignoring his Project for the New American Century ("PNAC"--the Cheney/Rumsfeld/Wolfowitz/Jeb Bush cabal that thought up our disastrous Iraq War policy, premised on the occurrence of 9/11).
1
If he had done that, there would no longer have been the argument that the pensions were costing New Jersey taxpayers unwarranted sums of money! Where are the Democrat voices in all this chicanery? Is everyone in New Jersey a crook?
2
The people who add the greatest value to this thread are those with further information on the subject and personal stories to tell.
We generalists with concerns about the big picture might take a back seat. I'm not going to shut up, but do recommend that people who are interested sift through and find these gems of information.
btw, I take care of my parents in NJ, so my interest in Christie's shenanigans is direct.
We generalists with concerns about the big picture might take a back seat. I'm not going to shut up, but do recommend that people who are interested sift through and find these gems of information.
btw, I take care of my parents in NJ, so my interest in Christie's shenanigans is direct.
13
I want to send this to every young adult I know who says, "I don't care about politics." If you don't care, if you turn away, you get corrupt politicians like Christie more than happy to take the reins, and you get to live with a polluted environment.
124
I thought that Republicans like Christie and Exon detested socialism. Only half true. They say, "Privatize Profits! Socialize Costs!"
119
"The saddest thing in life is wasted talent..." A Bronx Tale.
And like Charlie, Mr. Christie doesn't understand, he
"coulda been a contender, [he] coulda had class..." He could have become president.
And like Charlie, Mr. Christie doesn't understand, he
"coulda been a contender, [he] coulda had class..." He could have become president.
15
There is no "talent" in Christie to waste. He's been a bully his entire life. Do some research == read about the bullying tactics he used when he was a college student at the University of Delaware in order to hold office in his class and to pave the way for his girlfriend -- now his wife to -- succeed him.
He's all about himself -- greedy and glutinous and crooked.
He's all about himself -- greedy and glutinous and crooked.
3
More "free market forces" at work.
27
Mr. Christie's presidential aspirations are toast and he knows it. Now, I guess, with nothing left to lose, it's time to feather his retirement bed and who better than Exxon to do it
83
GL, what's scary is that he doesn't know he's toast - his supersized ego won't allow it. So more Christie abuse will likely keep coming New Jersey's way.
2
What needs to be fixed the most is the concept that a company needs to be brought to court in order for it to clean up its mess after doing business. Imagine if a contractor left a heap of debris on a job site after the construction was completed. In a crowded world there is no place left to just "throw it away" anymore. The fact that Exxon is "one of the most profitable energy companies in the world" gives them the resources and the long term outlook to fight such requirements. Politicians will always collude with powerful entities. We should strive for a world where polluting in the name of big business is a thing of the past.
17
True to form: today Christie declared a state of emergency in NJ and then left town for a political engagement. He does not even feign concern for the people of NJ.
54
It is impossible to underestimate the chokehold that the fossil fuel industry has on our governance especially as aided, abetted and enabled by the Third Pillar of our democracy, the Supreme Court. It is an octopus with invisible tentacles in and at all levels voiding and twisting politicians to their will for profits at the expense of all of us.
39
And here you have an ideal picture of what Republicans call presidential material. And let me ask: how does the Tea Party square this collusive greedy approach by their politicians with getting rid of "big government"?
27
What exactly would Christie have to do in order to be sanctioned or punished in any way? There was the politically motivated closing of lanes on a bridge, where it strains credulity to think he didn't know anything about it. Then there was the case of the pension fund where a judge had to intervene, and now this.
But he keeps going. Is he delusional to think he's still a contender? Or maybe this really is good campaign strategy -- assuming you are campaigning to the Exxons of the world rather than citizens. Mr. Christie is showing that he is willing to be bought and stay bought, even if caught and publicly embarrassed, if he is capable of being embarrassed. At CPAC recently, Scott Walker was bragging about his willingness to stand firm on hurting the citizens even in the face of a huge protest.
Has the system become so corrupt that they don't even have to put on a public show anymore? It reminds me of the mayor in Canada who couldn't be ousted even though his drug use was a public joke. We need some new "checks and balances". This is why we needed government not drowned in bathwater. We need a federal government that can rein in abuses like this. Otherwise the people are sold down the river, the polluted river.
But he keeps going. Is he delusional to think he's still a contender? Or maybe this really is good campaign strategy -- assuming you are campaigning to the Exxons of the world rather than citizens. Mr. Christie is showing that he is willing to be bought and stay bought, even if caught and publicly embarrassed, if he is capable of being embarrassed. At CPAC recently, Scott Walker was bragging about his willingness to stand firm on hurting the citizens even in the face of a huge protest.
Has the system become so corrupt that they don't even have to put on a public show anymore? It reminds me of the mayor in Canada who couldn't be ousted even though his drug use was a public joke. We need some new "checks and balances". This is why we needed government not drowned in bathwater. We need a federal government that can rein in abuses like this. Otherwise the people are sold down the river, the polluted river.
65
Apparently, this "esteemed" and "honorable" governor is willing to sell his soul in order to become president. By selling out the people of New Jersey to one of the most consistently profitable company on the planet, Governor Christie is telling big business and the 1% that he is theirs.
However, no matter how many ethical bridges he cross, he will never be elected president. In fact, the only times he will see the inside of the White House is by taking a tour or being invited as a guest.
His actions is why so many people believe that the Republicans care more about helping out businesses' profit margin than doing right by the citizens who don't ride in limousines or have vacation homes in the Hamptons.
He might as well place a "for sale" sign above the governor's mansion.
However, no matter how many ethical bridges he cross, he will never be elected president. In fact, the only times he will see the inside of the White House is by taking a tour or being invited as a guest.
His actions is why so many people believe that the Republicans care more about helping out businesses' profit margin than doing right by the citizens who don't ride in limousines or have vacation homes in the Hamptons.
He might as well place a "for sale" sign above the governor's mansion.
25
Jersey, I feel for ya. But, you guys voted for him. Twice. You like his brash, no nonsense, and plain spoken way. Just what the country needs, you say. Truth is, he's an insult. A bully. A narcissist of the first order. The rest of the country sees this pretty clearly and doesn't need any of it. Your mistake. You fix it. Start a recall.
157
OK, good point, but did you take a look at the candidates the local Dems put up against him? Talk about barrel-bottom scraping. Yeah, I voted for them, but I had to hold my nose to do it.
3
Thank you J. Murphy. As a citizen of NJ I am embarrassed to say he is the Governor of our state. He is everything you say he is and more. He is a bully and it's a shame the people of NJ are just beginning to his true colors. I said from the beginning the rest of the country will not tolerate his arrogance and nasty attitude and from what his numbers show the rest of the country are not impressed by this hot air balloon.
4
Not all of us voted for him even once. And you can be glad that for now -- he's only NJ's problem -- meanwhile a bunch of uninformed and stupid voters around the country have sent a bunch of dopes, knuckledraggers and thieves to the Congress to "represent" them and that bunch of rightwing tea party fools have done nothing except vote to abolish the ACA, shut down the government, stall on funding homeland security and catered to the interests of the lobbyists who own them -- it's time for all Americans to "fix it" by dumping the clowns like Paul, Labrador, Issa, Cruz etc.
8
Deregulated capitalism is the Christie brand! Watch out New Jersey! He wants to bring deregulated capitalism to public education across the state after injecting into Newark's school system--- and you can see how that's worked out.
21
$100 million of Zuckerberg's money was wasted in Newark -- I doubt that Z will be lining up to give Christie any campaign cash.
2
And you thought Chris Christie wasn't a "green" sort of guy?
Oh, yeah, green is the color of money in the form of corporate profits.
Oh, yeah, green is the color of money in the form of corporate profits.
15
Between the bullying of constituents, cronyism, the ethics questions, the intimidation of Democrats before his re-election, and misappropriation of Sandy funds, I would expect nothing less than this from Mr. Christie.
18
There were media reports that Exxon made large contributions to the Republican Governor's Association, which Christie heads. Are these true? If so, can quid pro quo be proved? Are indictments on racketeering or other charges possible?
17
It is difficult to understand the criticism of our governor, Chris Christie, in this affair.
1. He had no influence on the outcome.
2. Christie openly ran as a Republican for governor, and Republicans know how important job creators like Exxon are to New Jersey. Without them, we would have high unemployment in our state.
3. Just because our nickname is "Garden State", we need to make smart tradeoffs between polluting (our lands, water and air) and corporate profits.
4. There is no proof that Christie made a deal to let Exxon off the hook in return for secret funding of his campaign for President.
5. While NJ may be in the midst of a so-called "fiscal crisis", our governor knows the importance of the adage "never let them see you sweat".
6. As a private entity, Exxon will allocate their profits better than NJ ever could.
7. This episode is unequivocally NOT an example of Republican coddling of "Big Business" at the expense of the state.
8. Christie is a practical politician. He knows that giving relief to Exxon plays well with his political base of conservatives. Even if there is short-term harm to NJ, this kindness to business will send a clear message to like-minded voters across the country.
1. He had no influence on the outcome.
2. Christie openly ran as a Republican for governor, and Republicans know how important job creators like Exxon are to New Jersey. Without them, we would have high unemployment in our state.
3. Just because our nickname is "Garden State", we need to make smart tradeoffs between polluting (our lands, water and air) and corporate profits.
4. There is no proof that Christie made a deal to let Exxon off the hook in return for secret funding of his campaign for President.
5. While NJ may be in the midst of a so-called "fiscal crisis", our governor knows the importance of the adage "never let them see you sweat".
6. As a private entity, Exxon will allocate their profits better than NJ ever could.
7. This episode is unequivocally NOT an example of Republican coddling of "Big Business" at the expense of the state.
8. Christie is a practical politician. He knows that giving relief to Exxon plays well with his political base of conservatives. Even if there is short-term harm to NJ, this kindness to business will send a clear message to like-minded voters across the country.
2
Is this an Exxon attorney? Seriously, this is the most ridiculous argument I've ever heard. This is the clearest example of socializing costs one can get. Exxon was already found guilty. The only thing to determine was how much it would cost them for destroying the environment of New Jersey.
Please, let us know your address. I have some toxic waste I need to dump and apparently its not a problem for you.
Please, let us know your address. I have some toxic waste I need to dump and apparently its not a problem for you.
5
Casandra, think through your comment. Others found guilty paid their bill. XOM paid only part of their bill plus an "expediting fee." Is this the capitalism you want. When someone breaks into your home, gets caught and is found guilty, are you ok with them paying the local district attorney a few thousand dollars while you get 3 cents on the dollar for your losses?
6
Note to Courtney H and AustinWeird: Look up the expression "tongue in cheek".
Chris Christie has been to NJ what George W. Bush was to the nation: just like Katrina was to New Orleans.
Sorry for the confusion. Just to be clear: every single "point" I made was intentionally false. I was trying to speak in the voice of a Republican.
Chris Christie has been to NJ what George W. Bush was to the nation: just like Katrina was to New Orleans.
Sorry for the confusion. Just to be clear: every single "point" I made was intentionally false. I was trying to speak in the voice of a Republican.
4
The taxpayers of New Jersey will now pay for the clean ups that are essential to making the area whole again. Or they will face the prospect of living in a highly polluted, unmitigated state. Cancer and heart disease rates in New jersey appear to be low on the Governor's horizon.
Saving Exxon from having to clean up their mess should lead him to a pretty posh job, once the voters kick him out of office. What a guy! He ought to run for the Governorship of Texas. They like guys like him down there. Yahoo!
Saving Exxon from having to clean up their mess should lead him to a pretty posh job, once the voters kick him out of office. What a guy! He ought to run for the Governorship of Texas. They like guys like him down there. Yahoo!
18
Fortunately the voters of Pennsylvania got rid of Republican Governor Core-butt because he coddled the gas fracking industry by not charging an extraction tax and saddled the residents with the costs of any future cleanup and remediation. Unfortunately NJ voters of a certain stupid bent voted for Christie because they see him as a "straight shooting, tell it like it is" sort instead of seeing his as the corrupt, thin-skinned, self-serving lying politician
that he is.
that he is.
2
I am hopeful that the judge will reject the settlement and the settlement's details will be released.
46
Obvious, blatant graft, as clear as an oil slick. And nothing will be done about it, which indicates the depth of the problem.
21
Simply amazing Governor Christie continues to enjoy high esteem in certain quarters of the media and political world. This disgrace following on the sickening cronyism at the Port Authority to say nothing about the entire Bridgegate disaster. Still expecting action by the U.S. Attorney on one or more of these or other issues and then, pehaps, the esteem still remaining for the Governor will fade into the ocean mist and disappear forever. Hope springs eternal.......
11
I can't decide if this settlement makes Christie or Exxon look worse. Given that company's profits, they should have volunteered to clean up the mess they'd made rather than spend millions on lawyers. And given Christie's vaunted political shrewdness, he should have known that this would appear totally craven. So stay tuned for a massive contribution to Christie's appropriately foundering campaign by Exxon.
18
He doesn't care if it appears "craven." He knows his chance at the presidency is over. Now he's using his remaining time in office to grab all that he can get -- free meals, trips with the family on someone else's dime, and giving handouts to the corporations who will have a nice cushy, well-paying job for him as a lobbyist or possibly a cabinet post for him should another Repug win the 2016 election. He's not running for another office, he doesn't have to worry about votes, he just needs to grease the palms that will be there for him when his term as governor ends.
3
Hopefully the judge will not only reject the settlement, but also convene a hearing to learn the reasons why Christie settled so cheap. Perhaps the U.S. attorney should add this to his list of Christie investigations. Another case where political contributions bought quite a favorable result for Exxon and a tremendous loss for New Jersey.
31
Surely it is time for a recall? Not only this travesty, but also his changing of the rules to be able to accept lavish gifts from foreign leaders, his underfunding of the pension system, even the bridge nonsense. What is a recall for if not rampant obvious corruption?
24
I'm done buying gas from Exxon. The men and women who run that company should have enough moral fiber to refuse to cheat the people of New Jersey.
10
This case ran nine years. When you remember that the Valdez case found Exxon still battling after two decades, you will understand that Exxon plays by different rules than a lot of corporations. They have massive resources and they will fight tooth and nail any attempt to hold them accountable.
15
I wish Mr. Campbell and other knowledgable officials would not just write Op-Ed pieces but would intervene in the legal action and urge the court to reject the settlement as being inequitable on its face. With liability already established, it is hard to fathom why the State would accept such a small sum in the face of testimony and evidence which establishes far greater damages than those agreed to by the Governor's puppets. Mr. Campbell, if you read this, I stand ready as a licensed N.J. attorney willing to assist you in this effort.
15
All will be forgiven if Christie lowers tax rates for millionaires and corporations.
24
Thank you , Mr. Campbell, for having the courage to shed light on this situation. This sweetheart deal that the Governor pushed through should be thrown out by the citizens of New Jersey.
31
This is so sad. I own a house and live in New Jersey. Chris Christie has so damaged this state that each and every one of us will personally be paying for it for years.
I am critical of the New York Times. They are finally looking more closely at this man. They should have done so years ago. Looking into the malfeasance of Christie and his band of thugs could practically be a cottage industry.
I am critical of the New York Times. They are finally looking more closely at this man. They should have done so years ago. Looking into the malfeasance of Christie and his band of thugs could practically be a cottage industry.
53
Not just the New York Times, but all of the mainstream media. Investigative journalist David Sirota has been tweeting about Christie's malfeasance for months. I have been surprised at how little coverage there has been. One wonders what rewards or pressures there are that make this happen.
2
Can the judge call out this clearly corrupt and biased agreement and not approve the deal? Will he do this? Then what would happen? Curious minds would like to know.
This really is a slap in the face of justice for the people of the New Jersey.
This really is a slap in the face of justice for the people of the New Jersey.
20
Does the judge in the case have to accept this disgraceful settlement, or is it in his power to throw it out? It is not clear from either of these very relevant articles. That would be a good scenario, because left to the Democrats in NJ little will happen. Unfortunately, even in the majority they haven't been able to even put their shoes on the right foot when Christie is around.
JimF from Sewell
JimF from Sewell
5
Has anyone called the FBI yet?
19
Governor Christie vetoed a bipartisan bill to outlaw pig gestation crates in New Jersey solely to enhance his political chances in Iowa. The fact that he sold out New Jersey for three cents on the dollar to a wealthy corporation and potential donor is no surprise. It was to be expected of him. He is not the man I thought he was.
41
Christie is a mob boss, more than a governor.
39
I have never liked Christie, and always thought he was a "pretend tough guy," who kept bad company, and was always ready to cut a deal with big business to advance his political career. Imagine a joker like that becoming President of the United States and lecturing the American people about morality and ethics.I can't imagine! Christie makes Frank Hague look like "Herbie Sincere!"
16
In a country where it seems that no one except the poor and minorities are held accountable for anything anymore, this is the new normal. Not only is this about Christie paying back a contributor, it's about sending a message that if you write a check to Chris Christie you will absolutely positively get what you paid for. My only question is: Where are the crowds of reporters hounding Christie unrelentingly? Why is he allowed to get away without answering for this?
53
Just another bad decision by a bad governor.
New Jersey's landscape is horribly scared by the corporate vampires, like Exxon, Chevron, DuPont, and many other corporations whose dead wastelands litters the shores oh the Passaic, Hackensack, and Delaware Rivers together with both Newark and Delaware Bays, all while these corporations have reaped billions in profits from their polluted mismanagement of NJ land and have polluted our drinking water supply.
So, on the eve of a Judge about to finally hold just one of these corporate polluting bloodsuckers accountable for their gross egregious illegal acts, the NJ Governor cuts a quick deal to help fill a hole in his annual budget.
Sounds like a perfect Republican Presidential candidate!
New Jersey's landscape is horribly scared by the corporate vampires, like Exxon, Chevron, DuPont, and many other corporations whose dead wastelands litters the shores oh the Passaic, Hackensack, and Delaware Rivers together with both Newark and Delaware Bays, all while these corporations have reaped billions in profits from their polluted mismanagement of NJ land and have polluted our drinking water supply.
So, on the eve of a Judge about to finally hold just one of these corporate polluting bloodsuckers accountable for their gross egregious illegal acts, the NJ Governor cuts a quick deal to help fill a hole in his annual budget.
Sounds like a perfect Republican Presidential candidate!
43
For some reason, I have a strong suspicion that there was more money exchanged than only between Exxon and New Jersey. I have no facts - just a feeling................
11
Chris The King Christie ... Is there anything this guy can do right beside eat Twinkies ....... easily the worst governor in my lifetime
14
NJ is stuck with Christie, poster boy political hack and Exxon bag man. Exxon must be laughing all the way to the bank. Yet another reason for New Jerseyites to rue the day they elected, and reelected, this GOP corporate shill and oligarchic wannabe. I hope the uproar in NJ finishes off Christie's presidential fantasies. No reason for the rest of the U.S. to share New Jersey's pain.
29
He needs to be impeached for his corruption and make no mistake about it..this qualifies as corruption. You would expect Putin to pull something like this but a republican candidate for president of the United States. Christie is evil and has no shame what he did to his citizens of New Jersey ! He is no world leader, he would be a better fit in Russia.
39
Reply to "Patty W" who says "this qualifies as corruption." Of course it's corruption, but it's not illegal. The bottom line is that a huge part of corruption is perfectly legal in this country. If Christie wants to give Exxon a break there is nothing anyone can do about it. You all had your chance when he was voted him into office twice. You voted for the guy, now you are living with the consequences.
2
" Peter Rant " I bet not everyone in New Jersey voted for this corrupt man. Why should all the children of New Jersey have to suffer from the corrupt actions of Christie and Exxon and by the way the American public gives billions of dollars to the oil companies in tax subsidies...don't you think it's doggone time we stopped it ?
Mr. Campbell, immersed as he is in the Kumbaya of environmental legal gotchas, actually misses the real outrage attendant to this action by the Christie administration: New Jersey is billions of dollars in debt, can't meet its public sector pension contribution commitments, for which Christie was recently spanked by a NJ judge ... and the governor throws away the opportunity to significantly lessen the pressure by entering into what anyone looking at the facts would suspect was a corrupt deal with Exxon.
I don't blame Exxon in this -- they have a legal position and they're trying to protect their interests. It's up to the politician not to be treated like the harlot so many so often allow themselves to become.
Mr. Christie habitually blows actions like this off, apparently thinking that Americans will accept them as the normal hurly-burley of politics, and give him a pass. He's quite wrong: they won't. They'll associate behavior of this kind with the worst excess of a Tony Soprano, which decidedly is NOT what they see as being characteristic of the President of the United States.
He's going to lose the financial support of Sheldon Adelson and others, and he's going to fizzle and burn out early in the 2016 Republican primaries even if by then it makes sense to enter them.
I don't blame Exxon in this -- they have a legal position and they're trying to protect their interests. It's up to the politician not to be treated like the harlot so many so often allow themselves to become.
Mr. Christie habitually blows actions like this off, apparently thinking that Americans will accept them as the normal hurly-burley of politics, and give him a pass. He's quite wrong: they won't. They'll associate behavior of this kind with the worst excess of a Tony Soprano, which decidedly is NOT what they see as being characteristic of the President of the United States.
He's going to lose the financial support of Sheldon Adelson and others, and he's going to fizzle and burn out early in the 2016 Republican primaries even if by then it makes sense to enter them.
15
Mr. Luettgen, always on auto-Kumbaya himself, blithely accepts the idea that Exxon has responsibility only to its bottom line and no responsibility to the environment. Don't the owners and upper management of Exxon live on the same earth they are making filthy? Won't their children and their children's children be affected?
5
Mostly Rational:
You beg the question. Exxon has a legal argument that apparently the others who settled didn't.
An attempt to demonize a company that employs 75,000 people needs to be supported by more than your own personal, politically-correct ideology.
You beg the question. Exxon has a legal argument that apparently the others who settled didn't.
An attempt to demonize a company that employs 75,000 people needs to be supported by more than your own personal, politically-correct ideology.
We all need to remember that Exxon lost a lot of sales when the entrance to the GW Bridge was closed for the Gov's traffic survey. It is only fitting that this injured party receive just compensation for that lost revenue. Christie is just trying to make Exxon whole again, which shows the depth of this man's compassion and quest for justice--just ask him!
10
On the contrary, Exxon made out like a bandit while the cars idled in traffic, going nowhere. Going nowhere? Like Christie, for sure!
2
I thought that Al Capone was dead.
11
If he reduced the damages owed to the people of NJ by 1/36 imagine what he would do for corporations as President.
And guess which chumps would have to pay the shortfall?
First the traffic gate and now this? What other plagues will he unleash on N.J citizens?
He should be removed from office.
And guess which chumps would have to pay the shortfall?
First the traffic gate and now this? What other plagues will he unleash on N.J citizens?
He should be removed from office.
34
This is far worse than the bridge closings. That was a matter of spite and misuse of authority. This smells of a bribe.
15
ExxonMobil outranks 180 countries in economic capacity - yet NJ who can't afford to pay its pension obligations is giving them a License to exploit and damage not only our environment, but our communities, and our health. The Economist Milton Friedman, the Republican mentor, argued: "The moral imperative of corporations is to make as much money for the shareholder as possible. To pursue social and environmental goals at the expense of profitability would be immoral." That goes to say then that it is the moral imperative of government to limit corporations predatory instincts otherwise corporations have no restraints and they will continue to destroy people's lives and the planet for profit. But NO! Christie is so delusional he thinks he works for them NOT NJ. Well, it is about time he stands trial for stealing taxpayers money and goes to jail. And then we need a Governor who will go after all the companies (DuPont, Merk, GM, GE, Monsanto....Occidental,) who have damage our environment.
17
Given Mr. Christie's rather questionable history as governor with bridgegate and other questionable issues, this looks like corruption and favors writ large. What possible justification could anyone give for a $250 million settlement against an $8.9 billion suit when liability had already been established in court? It is unfathomable. I rather assume Christie will throw his chief counsel under the bus (sound familiar?) and wash his hands of the affair. This man has now shown himself NOT to be presidential material.
16
New Jerseyans, what are you waiting for, recall this incompetent jerk. He has done the great state of New Jersey great harm, in name, reputation and treasure. What does it take for Americans to see straight, an anvil from 30,000 feet?
17
This op-ed's subtitle could be shortened to "Chris Christie is bad for New Jersey." As a resident, I know this all too well.
15
If you think corporations wag the dog now, just wait until the Trans-Pacific Partnership becomes law. Corporations will be the dog...and sue whenever the tail tries to wag.
4
Had Christie not butted in, NJ could have recouped the funds it would have put toward the construction of the ARC cross-harbor tunnel intended for trains, which he canceled in 2012. Clearly, he does not want to help his own states' residents who would benefit from enhanced public transportation but rather Exxon! In both instances, he had opportunities to improve the NJ environment (and in the process better his state's image) and outright rejected them. It's sad.
7
Yup, this guy Christie is real Presidential material. Bought and paid for by Exxon.
177
Give Mr. Christie credit for being a truly talented con artist, with enormous solid brass attachments, and the ability to avoid censure by the otherwise Democratic Officials in New Jersey to remove him from office. It's becoming more and more difficult to have faith in our system of justice within democratic government.
7
My own perceptions may be affected by proximity to Tinseltown, but it appears from here that Tony Soprano is the governor of New Jersey.
32
Minus the charm.
8
This thing is worse than Tony Soprano, at least Tony had a heart.
5
Are Christie's actions really surprising other than the scope of their venality? The governor has distinguished himself as an enemy of the taxpayers of New Jersey from early on. It is who he is.
64
Thanks, governor, for putting our interest behind your presidential ambitions again. Well, at least he didn't shut down the Turnpike or the Parkway for some other personal vendetta. Is it any wonder why the people of NJ have gotten tired of this corrupt blowhard and now disapprove his performance more than approve? At the rate the governor is going, Tony Soprano would have a cleaner conscience than Christie.
58
Pick up your check on your way out, Mr. Christie.
24
It keeps coming up that Mr. Christie is on the way out in one case or another, but he keeps on going. It is foreseeable that someday we may not have Chris Christie to kick around anymore. My suggestion is that we should really work on kicking him around now, while we can.
58
Yes, this might be the one time when the four year olds' method of playing soccer, both teams, every player, standing around kicking the ball at the same time, might actually be the best strategy.
The “Energizer Hippo” ... or to paraphrase another venerable ad: “We take a lickin’ and he keeps on tickin’"
1
Got Ya!
NYT must be crying with joy. If this story is true and Mr Christie's hands are really all over the deal, well, can't help but torpedo his presidential aspirations.
Not that 'The Times' cares that much though. No, the neutral monitor of all things political that the times really purports to be, wouldn't take sides. No not here.
Well, we all know, the guv messed with that 'off ramp' thingy, back in the day, didn't he?
Must be something here, I guess.
Just sounds too 'House of Cards' theatrical / pat, to be real world.
But then, what do I know? Must defer to the mighty Times for the truth...
NYT must be crying with joy. If this story is true and Mr Christie's hands are really all over the deal, well, can't help but torpedo his presidential aspirations.
Not that 'The Times' cares that much though. No, the neutral monitor of all things political that the times really purports to be, wouldn't take sides. No not here.
Well, we all know, the guv messed with that 'off ramp' thingy, back in the day, didn't he?
Must be something here, I guess.
Just sounds too 'House of Cards' theatrical / pat, to be real world.
But then, what do I know? Must defer to the mighty Times for the truth...
1
there are no two sides to this story, crispie hasn't released its side, and what could it be but a payoff. Why would anyone with a half a brain take 250 million for 8.9 BILLION in damages. Hopefully this judge will reject this sham agreement.
4
Unless you're going to spend the time and effort to uncover the truth yourself, ragray, you have to rely on others, to a degree. And if you must rely on others then why not rely on one of the most respected newspapers in the country?
Or, would you rather rely on Larry down the street?
Or, would you rather rely on Larry down the street?
6
ragray - You make it sound like Christie is the victim here, and the NYT somehow set him up. And BTW, the 'off ramp' thingy was an entrance ramp.
7
The judge needs to reject this unconscionable settlement! It's amazing how little it takes for big corporations to buy off politicians.
How much did Exxon reserve on their books for the settlement? Probably a lot more than $250M. Windfall for Exxon shareholders! Christie has enriched Exxon shareholders at the expense of NJ citizens.
How much did Exxon reserve on their books for the settlement? Probably a lot more than $250M. Windfall for Exxon shareholders! Christie has enriched Exxon shareholders at the expense of NJ citizens.
41
There was no downside to waiting for the judge's ruling on the case. This smells worse than parts of the meadowlands.
29
That's the Gov we know so well in Jersey. Never passes up a chance to mess up NJ's finances, and toss as much dough as possible to his rich friends, who shovel it back to his coffers. Everybody's rich and happy, except NJ citizens, of course.
51
Yup, it's true. He's not fit to be President of the US.
The more we learn, it seems he's not fit to be governor of New Jersey either!
The more we learn, it seems he's not fit to be governor of New Jersey either!
20
What else would a republican do? not bow down to monied special interests.
11
Why does every story about Christie, and there are so many, always lead down a path of the people around him? So maybe he doesn't know and is just a loser when it comes to knowing who to trust. Either way what has wasted political life Mr. Gov!
2
How can someone as thick and dense as Gov. Christie be so transparently corruptable?
7
In a different time and place Christie and his gang would have been known as "collaborators."
8
Well, Citizens United strikes again... How big was that contribution, Governor?
15
And this loud-mouth wants to run for President of the United States?
shut up and sit down, Chris Chritie.
shut up and sit down, Chris Chritie.
14
Cui bono & Quid pro quo...this stinks to high heaven. That CC is not in federal prison shows what a sham our democracy really is. Throw the the Outlaw Jersey Whale in jail.
28
It is called corruption. It needs to be prosecuted.
55
My question is: if it's found to be corruption, can the settlement be walked back? Or are we stuck having given Exxon an eight billion dollar gift.
3
One of the best points made in this argument is that those companies that settled quickly must feel like they've been "slicked". The takeaway lesson for them is to continue in "litigation limbo" until there is someone in office who is self serving and remorseless . Getting easier to find every day.
26
It is simply too blatent to be believeable-the world's second largest company buying down a multi billion dollar environmental fine to 250 mil by contributing to a campain coffer? C'mon.
Christie HAS to address this. Did he think we would somehow not notice? That will be interesting.
Christie HAS to address this. Did he think we would somehow not notice? That will be interesting.
13
He is THAT dense...he's hiking his own Appalachian Trail here, thinking he's above it all, won't get questioned, won't get caught. And if people give him a hard time, there's always his signature line: "Sit down and shut up!"
I pray there is something prosecutable in all this---when he leaves NJ, I hope it is in total dishonor and shame, an emotion he currently knows nothing about.
I hope the big "Welcome" mat for him is in front of a penitentiary, not the corporate headquarters of Exxon Mobil.
I pray there is something prosecutable in all this---when he leaves NJ, I hope it is in total dishonor and shame, an emotion he currently knows nothing about.
I hope the big "Welcome" mat for him is in front of a penitentiary, not the corporate headquarters of Exxon Mobil.
7
Is it possible the NJ Pension Fund will somehow be 'magically' funded?
6
Pork chop shouldn't have done that.
8
"Come visit New Jersey, the 'Louisiana of the North'."
18
News ? Yes .
A surprise ? No !
A surprise ? No !
9
I never understood why anybody voted for this guy in the first place, and he has looked worse and worse as time has dragged on. Maybe if we just hold our breaths long enough, he'll be indicted, or just get distracted and wander off. The image of a bear knocking over a barrel of used cooking oil behind a fast-food restaurant comes to mind...
9
What a disgrace to the GARDEN STATE. He will never be our President. Sell out is too good a name for him.
7
I am no fan of that slimy bully christire, but the job of the dep is to fix these sites where possible. The 8.5 billion was funny money nof one would get anyway. The elites wanted the moon, christie broughtbthem to earh. Now the governor sceaming like a schoolgirl at the dallas gamxe, disgusting.
I hope New Jersey's state and local press follow up this story's excellent set-up, and that national/international news agencies copy. The people, through their press, need to insist NOW on an accounting from Christie why and precisely how the governor's office intervened at a crucial moment in the judgment phase of the case, and why the state has chosen to settle for such a low payout in comparison to the damage done by Exxon. Then make more news out of Christie's inevitable tactics to evade a response and to savage the questioner. Drill down to show the rest of the country the true timber of this sad excuse for a governor who still, unbelievably, is able to think he has a chance at the presidency despite Bridgegate, correctional scandals involving crony prison housing contracts, failure to honor pension fund payment agreements, manipulation of governing bodies for state conservation boards, kneejerk nonsense about Ebola, and gross failure to manage the state's economy - the list goes on and just gets worse. Just how much daylight does it take to expose this blowhard bully for the tool he really is?
11
The Exxon settlement is a bridge too far for Christie.
It is now clear that Christie is willing to sell out New Jersey for his political career.
The big man belongs in the big house.
It is now clear that Christie is willing to sell out New Jersey for his political career.
The big man belongs in the big house.
11
The oil contamination by Exxon is no where near as toxic as Governor Christie.
7
Christie should have recused himself and his staff from these negotiations given his ambitions combined with Exxon's political contributions. Morally and legally that is what he should have done. It would have been the right thing for New Jersey, who are still his primary constituents and the state's well-being he has a fiduciary responsibility to.
Citizens of New Jersey should band together and sue him professionally and personally for failing to put the needs of the state first.
Citizens of New Jersey should band together and sue him professionally and personally for failing to put the needs of the state first.
5
Katy wrote: "Citizens of New Jersey should band together and sue him professionally and personally for failing to put the needs of the state first."
Yet, who is brave and deep-pocketed enough to stand up and become the target of a malignant satrap willing to use all the powers of his office and beyond to persecute those who might oppose him?
Yet, who is brave and deep-pocketed enough to stand up and become the target of a malignant satrap willing to use all the powers of his office and beyond to persecute those who might oppose him?
Seriously, what else was Gov. Christie supposed to do? You can't run for the Republican nomination for President if you show you're willing to hold large corporations responsible for their actions. Just as you can't run if you raise gas taxes to fund the transportation fund. Just as you can't run if you do what is necessary to meet the states contractual obligations to fund public servant's pensions. It doesn't matter how badly off he leaves New Jersey, Gov. Christie has one, and only one, commitment, and that is to run for President, to fulfill his overarching ambition.
497
This behavior gives credence to prior allegations that the Christie administration improperly intervened in the Trout, Russo, Falat Jr. case in 2009 when Christie stepped in AFTER a grand jury advanced a 43 count indictment against them. Christie and his personnel elbowed their way into that case and summarily dismissed the indictment, reversed a termination, and closed the case to the bewilderment of the prosecutors who had successfully brought the case forward and achieved the indictment. There is currently a Federal Investigation underway into that matter.
And now similar behavior with Exxon. Something smells fishy in the Christie administration and it's not the fish.
Original story on the aforementioned case:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/11/nyregion/43-count-indictment-of-a-chri...
And now similar behavior with Exxon. Something smells fishy in the Christie administration and it's not the fish.
Original story on the aforementioned case:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/11/nyregion/43-count-indictment-of-a-chri...
10
Christie is merely proving that he's a good Republican presidential candidate, cutting deals for Big Oil. It's a Republican requirement in the White House. Remember when gasoline spiked at nearly $5.00? Guess who was President.
41
If this had happened in Russia, would we not call it a crass case of corruption, exercised by Putin cronies to please an oligarch?
Now translate, slowly, into American English, with a Jersey accent.
Now translate, slowly, into American English, with a Jersey accent.
238
"Someone's on the take".
3
A half million dollar donation sways a crooked politician to cover up the degradation of NY's priceless water habitat?
31
New Jersey's Teflon don may be about to slip on an oil slick. He is becoming as toxic as the muck Exxon left behind.
KA
KA
117
Exxon's net income after taxes has ranged from $19 to $44 billion each and every year for at least the last ten years.
They are one of the richest corporations in the world having amassed roughly $350 billion in cumulative profit in just the last ten years.
To settle for $250 million is a practical joke against the people of New Jersey and appears very much like a criminal act by the executive branch of government.
The environmental damage to New Jersey's environment was significant; it cannot be repaired or mitigated without spending many billions.
The proposed settlement in favor of one of the wealthiest corporations in the world is yet another disgrace in a long list of Chris Christie disgraces against the citizens of New Jersey.
As Chris Christie has repeatedly demonstrated during his reign, he is ethically dead and has trouble telling right from wrong.
It's nice that America can see that Christie is wholly unqualified to lead the nation, but meanwhile he continues to harm New Jersey on a regular basis.
Hopefully, the judge will reject the proposed settlement as the obscenity it truly is and tell Governor Christie to stop ripping off the public.
They are one of the richest corporations in the world having amassed roughly $350 billion in cumulative profit in just the last ten years.
To settle for $250 million is a practical joke against the people of New Jersey and appears very much like a criminal act by the executive branch of government.
The environmental damage to New Jersey's environment was significant; it cannot be repaired or mitigated without spending many billions.
The proposed settlement in favor of one of the wealthiest corporations in the world is yet another disgrace in a long list of Chris Christie disgraces against the citizens of New Jersey.
As Chris Christie has repeatedly demonstrated during his reign, he is ethically dead and has trouble telling right from wrong.
It's nice that America can see that Christie is wholly unqualified to lead the nation, but meanwhile he continues to harm New Jersey on a regular basis.
Hopefully, the judge will reject the proposed settlement as the obscenity it truly is and tell Governor Christie to stop ripping off the public.
781
Mr campbell says:
"When Mr. Christie became governor in 2010, I hoped that as a former prosecutor he would understand how important the case was to environmental law enforcement. I believed that as a lawyer he would understand how unfair it would be to the companies that quickly settled their liability on fair terms if Exxon were to be treated more favorably."
He is the most naive and dishonest man I can imagine if he seriously doesn't understand that Christie did make the "plea bargain" with Exxon BECAUSE he was a prosecotor!
Prosecutors and thier assistants, like judges, are all but , no. They are all above the law. No prosecutor ever needs fear prison or even dismissal for minor infractions such as framing innocent people and for letting the guilty free. Judges too are untouchable.
As a result, Mr Christie feels that he has run the state into the mud for years and gotten kudos for it. Selling a legal judgment to the highest bidder,(how much was NJ going to give him to ensure Exxon paid a fair price?), is just an ordinary days work for the big-boy across the river and standard operating procedure for prosecutors all across the USA: take actions which are inexplicable and seem all but criminal to outsiders.
It is the reason why one of our perennial American prison jokes is that everyone inside claims to have been framed. The real joke is that US Prosecutors, like Christie, have made it a fact.
"When Mr. Christie became governor in 2010, I hoped that as a former prosecutor he would understand how important the case was to environmental law enforcement. I believed that as a lawyer he would understand how unfair it would be to the companies that quickly settled their liability on fair terms if Exxon were to be treated more favorably."
He is the most naive and dishonest man I can imagine if he seriously doesn't understand that Christie did make the "plea bargain" with Exxon BECAUSE he was a prosecotor!
Prosecutors and thier assistants, like judges, are all but , no. They are all above the law. No prosecutor ever needs fear prison or even dismissal for minor infractions such as framing innocent people and for letting the guilty free. Judges too are untouchable.
As a result, Mr Christie feels that he has run the state into the mud for years and gotten kudos for it. Selling a legal judgment to the highest bidder,(how much was NJ going to give him to ensure Exxon paid a fair price?), is just an ordinary days work for the big-boy across the river and standard operating procedure for prosecutors all across the USA: take actions which are inexplicable and seem all but criminal to outsiders.
It is the reason why one of our perennial American prison jokes is that everyone inside claims to have been framed. The real joke is that US Prosecutors, like Christie, have made it a fact.
1
On his imaginary trip to the White House, Chris Christie has nakedly sold-out the people of New Jersey. He truly has no shame.
166
class A bullies never do.
4
True, Dianne, but he has a soul to match!
1
Enough about that staunch fiscal conservative Chris Christie giving away billions of New Jersey's taxpayers' money to a favorite oil friend, while he stiffs his legal obligations to pay into pension funds. After all, how can poor New Jersey possibly afford to meet its financial obligations? And enough about his signing an executive order that allows him to travel in high style paid for by his wealthy friends, while New Jersey's fiscal standing continues to deteriorate. Can't the media focus on important things? Like Benghazi...? Or even better, impeaching Chris Christie.
70
Christie is toast as far as presidency--Exxon Exec is his well-paid parachute.
25
Unfortunately, Chris thinks the Arthur Kill and Newark Bay are just somewhere in the swamps of Jersey.
But Bruce knows this land is your land.
But Bruce knows this land is your land.
7
Strikingly similar to his cancelling the ARC tunnel to NYC on spurious grounds in order to use the money to cover up his overly rosy budget falling short.
It is amazing that he maintains a "tell it like it is" image in the face of so much contrary evidence.
It is amazing that he maintains a "tell it like it is" image in the face of so much contrary evidence.
579
You know, that $8.9 million would have been more than enough to cover NJ's share of the ARC tunnel costs....
2
Don't forget about the money he used for the Pulaski Sky Way. How did those funds find their way to that project?
Bill from Des Moines wrote:
"The NYT has accurately reported that ExxonMobil has made no political contributions to any NJ politician since 2009."
Bradley M. Campbell wrote:
"While he was chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2014, the group received $500,000 from Exxon and more from company employees."
Christie wants to run for president, in doing so he needs to build "favors" he can collect on. Raising over half a million dollars for the Republican Governors Association is a collectable "favor".
Sure all the New Jersey politicians' hands are "clean" but it still stinks and the GOP is very grateful for the money and Exxon paid over $750,000 to eliminate a potential $8.9 billion bill for environmental damages.
"The NYT has accurately reported that ExxonMobil has made no political contributions to any NJ politician since 2009."
Bradley M. Campbell wrote:
"While he was chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2014, the group received $500,000 from Exxon and more from company employees."
Christie wants to run for president, in doing so he needs to build "favors" he can collect on. Raising over half a million dollars for the Republican Governors Association is a collectable "favor".
Sure all the New Jersey politicians' hands are "clean" but it still stinks and the GOP is very grateful for the money and Exxon paid over $750,000 to eliminate a potential $8.9 billion bill for environmental damages.
17
Takes a big trough to feed that guy.
9
...and they say Bangladesh is corrupt. I live in Short Hills and can smell the stench from Trenton all the way over here...
34
Absolutely stunning--and brazenly blatant!
WHEN is Christie going to be brought up on charges for gross malfeasance? Using the Port Authority to pursue a political vendetta, holding Hurricane Sandy relief hostage, being declared to be involved in "illegal actions" by a NJ JUDGE for signing a pension deal and then unilaterally tearing it up, personally trashing the Arc-tunnel project and trying to glom onto THAT money to "balance" his budget...
Those sort of glomming onto any and all state monies to falsely "balance" budgets certainly must be illegal?
Why isn't the Justice Dept investigating THIS sordid state of affairs?
WHEN is Christie going to be brought up on charges for gross malfeasance? Using the Port Authority to pursue a political vendetta, holding Hurricane Sandy relief hostage, being declared to be involved in "illegal actions" by a NJ JUDGE for signing a pension deal and then unilaterally tearing it up, personally trashing the Arc-tunnel project and trying to glom onto THAT money to "balance" his budget...
Those sort of glomming onto any and all state monies to falsely "balance" budgets certainly must be illegal?
Why isn't the Justice Dept investigating THIS sordid state of affairs?
74
It is infuriating to me that billions were left on the table.
My wife and I are enmeshed in a six year long residential underground oil tank remediation mandated by the NJDEP on our NJ residence that threatens our retirement savings and possibly our ability to stay in our home. The NJ fund that reimburses homeowners for the uninsured portion of the remediation cleanup, whatever percent that might be (in our case 18% of a a half million dollars so far), is running 5-6 years behind schedule leaving single family homeowners liable to tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt. It was reported in late 2014 that Mr. Christie was moving monies out of environmental programs into the general fund to balance the budget and look like a good conservative for the 2016 presidential circus.
There should be a way to stop the governor from stealing these billions from the citizens of NJ and perhaps impeach him along the way.
My wife and I are enmeshed in a six year long residential underground oil tank remediation mandated by the NJDEP on our NJ residence that threatens our retirement savings and possibly our ability to stay in our home. The NJ fund that reimburses homeowners for the uninsured portion of the remediation cleanup, whatever percent that might be (in our case 18% of a a half million dollars so far), is running 5-6 years behind schedule leaving single family homeowners liable to tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt. It was reported in late 2014 that Mr. Christie was moving monies out of environmental programs into the general fund to balance the budget and look like a good conservative for the 2016 presidential circus.
There should be a way to stop the governor from stealing these billions from the citizens of NJ and perhaps impeach him along the way.
339
What a tragedy. Thanks for putting the story in the context of what it does to people's lives.
My deepest sympathy.
My deepest sympathy.
10
Your story gave me a sick feeling inside. But the same thought occurred to me too: that paltry settlement smells like something that might warrant a recall vote on Christie if he was indeed selling out to the oil industry to help his presidential bid.
8
Christie needs to be impeached.
Teachers and others made a big mistake by not launching a recall campaign against Christie after his first year in office when he first stole from public employees pensions, slashed train services and began his Reign of Error.
Then Christie lied about the "Race to the Top" application which lost NJ millions for a botched application. Christie has given literally billions of NJ taxpayer money to corporations like Honeywell, Panasonic, the Mall of America ad nauseum with David Samson's lawfirm pocketing fees from every deal. Meanwhile Christie has LOST NJ many millions by being the only state to leave the Northeast Climate Initiative to cut carbon emissions which actually pays States money, by refusing Federal aid for health care and other aid, by applying for zero applications for desperately needed public transit.
The argument back in 2010 was that a recall campaign would not win.
But it would have likely prevented Christie's re-election as one of the most corrupt, venal and dictatorial Governors in New Jersey's long history of the same.
Barbara Buono would have done a much better job but of course she was opposed for being independent of the neoliberal Democratic bosses who are almost as corrupt as Christie who have supported the endless boondoggles like the Mall of America Meadowlands disaster, the $2.5 Billion widening of the NJ Turnpike asphalt which could not be plowed with existing snow removal resources, etc etc
Teachers and others made a big mistake by not launching a recall campaign against Christie after his first year in office when he first stole from public employees pensions, slashed train services and began his Reign of Error.
Then Christie lied about the "Race to the Top" application which lost NJ millions for a botched application. Christie has given literally billions of NJ taxpayer money to corporations like Honeywell, Panasonic, the Mall of America ad nauseum with David Samson's lawfirm pocketing fees from every deal. Meanwhile Christie has LOST NJ many millions by being the only state to leave the Northeast Climate Initiative to cut carbon emissions which actually pays States money, by refusing Federal aid for health care and other aid, by applying for zero applications for desperately needed public transit.
The argument back in 2010 was that a recall campaign would not win.
But it would have likely prevented Christie's re-election as one of the most corrupt, venal and dictatorial Governors in New Jersey's long history of the same.
Barbara Buono would have done a much better job but of course she was opposed for being independent of the neoliberal Democratic bosses who are almost as corrupt as Christie who have supported the endless boondoggles like the Mall of America Meadowlands disaster, the $2.5 Billion widening of the NJ Turnpike asphalt which could not be plowed with existing snow removal resources, etc etc
5
How is it possible that a literal despot like Mr. Christie can sell his state so far down the river for obvious personal and political gain, and get away with it? Is there nothing that can be done to challenge, and potentially reverse, this disastrous affront and abuse of the citizens of New Jersey? While it is usually true that "you get what you ask for (aka vote for!), it hardly seems fair to punish voters of New Jersey so severely for their obvious prior incaution. By way of full disclosure, I say this as a resident of the great State of Maine, who currently has their own self-imposed lunatic Tea Party Governator to deal with!
23
Chris Christie's trajectory as governor of New Jersey has been deeply flawed, with corruption in his administration still being debated in Court. This bully is giving a free pass to an oil company polluting the state, a decision that came out of nowhere, but highly suspicious of graft, granting impunity for all the damage inflicted. The hope is that the U.S. attorney for New Jersey reverses this travesty of justice. So far, it appears as though this governor, short of committing a crime, may be able to wash his hands after cheating his state from recovering what is its due, and restore the environmental harm.
8
The final settlement has to be approved by the very judge who was considering what damages to award. No judge would approve a $250M settlement in any case worth considerably more. No one has signed away billions because Judge Hogan wouldn't allow it. Anyone unaware of that fact is woefully unfamiliar with the law.
2
How is it possible that this issue was not raised during "town hall" meetings with Christie ? Is the press totally gutless ? Do they fear "sit down and shut up".
My grade school self naively believes that this obvious quid pro quo will not stand. But the adult in me knows the our democracy and the justice system are dead and sold to the highest bidder.
My grade school self naively believes that this obvious quid pro quo will not stand. But the adult in me knows the our democracy and the justice system are dead and sold to the highest bidder.
9
Many of his town hall meetings were set-ups with supporters. If anyone dared to question him, they'd get a ,"Sit down and shut up!". Hopefully, the tide has turned.
2
Christie does not take questions from the press at these staged events.
1
The NJ taxpayers can make up the difference.
3
Yet another death blow to Christie's Presidential ambitions.
9
So if Christie in any way "distinguishes" himself "for the environment" as the Op-Ed hoped he might do, he is as good as a cooked goose in the Republican primaries. What sort of calling card is that? My government won a billion dollars vs. ExxonMobil? So, he could not negotiate any large number, nor, crucially, could he allow the judge to award any large number. He probably found a way to beg ExxonMobil to LOWER their offer, so it looks as small as possible.
Not that he has any real chance anyway, but what sort of a politician would he be if he can't trade a few billions in benefits for his constituents for a small chance to advance his own ambitions? Is this the first time he did it? No. One of his first acts as governor was he cancelled a crucial tunnel to NYC to appease people from a region where they neither have nor car about public transportation. That is the governor of New Jersey for you, the State where maybe 70% of its economy and population is in the densest, most public transport intensive part of the country.
Not that he has any real chance anyway, but what sort of a politician would he be if he can't trade a few billions in benefits for his constituents for a small chance to advance his own ambitions? Is this the first time he did it? No. One of his first acts as governor was he cancelled a crucial tunnel to NYC to appease people from a region where they neither have nor car about public transportation. That is the governor of New Jersey for you, the State where maybe 70% of its economy and population is in the densest, most public transport intensive part of the country.
6
Why would they agree to this ? Who benefits ? The Christie administration has been involved in a myriad of shady deals with the Port Authority and Atlantic City, but the amount left on the table in this case is staggering and there is no doubt at all that the court would have awarded a figure exponentially beyond the relative peanuts received from this settlement.
It is almost inconceivable that a potential presidential nominee would partake in a skin game of this magnitude without considering the consequences. Mr. Christie has dodged the bullet so far , but his documented penchant for arrogance may well have overcome his common sense in this matter.
Curious indeed and comprehensive data regarding this capitulation to Exxon-Mobil must be examined carefully by the media and the public before the truth regarding a distinctly malodorous and magnificent gift to one of the world's wealthiest corporations might be justified...or condemned.
$250 million is a lot of money, but a pittance compared to the $8.9 billion worth of damages rendered by verdict in a case that, over the years, may have run up $250 million in court costs and legal fees alone.
It is almost inconceivable that a potential presidential nominee would partake in a skin game of this magnitude without considering the consequences. Mr. Christie has dodged the bullet so far , but his documented penchant for arrogance may well have overcome his common sense in this matter.
Curious indeed and comprehensive data regarding this capitulation to Exxon-Mobil must be examined carefully by the media and the public before the truth regarding a distinctly malodorous and magnificent gift to one of the world's wealthiest corporations might be justified...or condemned.
$250 million is a lot of money, but a pittance compared to the $8.9 billion worth of damages rendered by verdict in a case that, over the years, may have run up $250 million in court costs and legal fees alone.
9
In a situation where the court has already found the defendant liable, and the only question remaining is the amount of damages, you could imagine a settlement, but in terms favorable to the prosecution. 75 cents on the dollar, even 50, you could see it. But 3 cents?
Some people look at whether there's a quid pro quo for donations Exxon made to the GOP, but I think it's simpler. The governor forced through a provision that environmental settlements after the first $50m go to the state general fund. Perhaps Governor Christie wanted that money to paper over his disastrous handling of the state budget.
Some people look at whether there's a quid pro quo for donations Exxon made to the GOP, but I think it's simpler. The governor forced through a provision that environmental settlements after the first $50m go to the state general fund. Perhaps Governor Christie wanted that money to paper over his disastrous handling of the state budget.
20
Then why wouldn't he want more settlement to fill his massive budget hole? The pay off ended up/will end up in campaign coffers IMO. Christie could care less about a budget shortfall, in fact along with "sit down and shut up" and eating, it is the only area where he excels.
3
I deem Chris Christie the most disgraceful Governor of our Tri-State region in my living memory.
7
Water and oil do not mix.
Republicans and oil - a greasy marinade.
Here was the opportunity to close the "no new taxes" budget deficit.
Instead, NJ settles for chump change.
Republicans and oil - a greasy marinade.
Here was the opportunity to close the "no new taxes" budget deficit.
Instead, NJ settles for chump change.
7
Well, I guess it's now crystal clear to the American public what they're in for if they elect Christie as president...
...a total and complete sell out to the corporations.
...a total and complete sell out to the corporations.
14
If this angers you, don't ever buy Exxon or Mobil gas or other products, and don't support Christie for ANY public office EVER again.
11
I have boycotted Exxon since the Valdez.
4
If you put aside the obvious issue of political corruption, then this is a colossally stupid move on behalf of the Christie administration, losing billions of dollars for NJ and ensuring that these sites will only ever be cleaned up at great taxpayer expense. Furthermore, as the article suggests, it sets a terrible precedent for polluters, to simply refuse to admit responsibility and wait for a favorable party, i.e. Republicans, to come to power and let them off the hook. Money in politics = we the people lose.
14
This story is so questionable and suspicious that I hope the judge puts a stop to it for reconsideration in the full light of day. The publicity has helped. It sounds disgraceful.
8
Settling for a tiny fraction just as a judge is about to rule on the amount make no sense. The 1% protecting itself, and NJ the loser. Hopefully the judge will reject the settlement, and even if not, perhaps NJ has an honest official who can derail this giveaway.
10
So this week alone we have found out that America's foreign policy is being dictated by Isreal. Our policing is being dictated by tax revenue streams. Our judiciary is dictated by god knows what conservative action commitee. An oil company dictates the only infrastructure project the Congress is willing to discuss. Gun safety is being dictated by a gun enthusiasts group who's survival rests on gun sales. Money dictates who gets to run for political office and, therefore, it gets to dictate how much it is willing to pay in a settlement deal 10 years in the making. Waiter, check please, the parties over.
171
Thank you, Mr. Campbell for writing this op-ed.
You cite 2 important points that I did not recall reading in the original news reports.
1. EXXON was found liable. In simpler terms, GUILTY.
2. The judge needs to approve the settlement.
This settlement reeks of favoritism and corruption. The donation to a Christie-led group and then the settlement should be illegal. The meddling by Christie political staff or appointees should also be illegal. Christie must publicly disclose the agreement and his rationale.
Either way, though, the judge ought to reject the settlement and impose a hefty penalty on Exxon and rebuke Christie for these shenanigans.
You cite 2 important points that I did not recall reading in the original news reports.
1. EXXON was found liable. In simpler terms, GUILTY.
2. The judge needs to approve the settlement.
This settlement reeks of favoritism and corruption. The donation to a Christie-led group and then the settlement should be illegal. The meddling by Christie political staff or appointees should also be illegal. Christie must publicly disclose the agreement and his rationale.
Either way, though, the judge ought to reject the settlement and impose a hefty penalty on Exxon and rebuke Christie for these shenanigans.
33
Thank you for writing this piece. I am beyond disgusted with Christie for this shameful action. I hope the judge disapproves the settlement and awards enough damages at least to pay for the actual cost of cleanup, which is more than $2 billion.
458
It would also be a good idea to have a Federal investigation into what could easily be improper conduct on the part of Exxon and NJ officials.
4
Unfortunately this is not a surprise. Christie and the people who work for him don't care about NJ's residents. Their only concern is helping him in his run for the White House. He's just one more anti-environment Republican willing to sell the state down the drain so he can get the big campaign contributions that the fossil fuel industry can give to him and others like him.
Plus after the EXXON Valdez crime the effects of which are still being felt in Alaska, no one can be surprised by the actions of EXXON and their refusal to do the right thing and pay for the damage that they caused in NJ.
Plus after the EXXON Valdez crime the effects of which are still being felt in Alaska, no one can be surprised by the actions of EXXON and their refusal to do the right thing and pay for the damage that they caused in NJ.
338
This seems to go WAY beyond not caring about NJ; I hope 100 enterprising reporters follow the money on this one, which is much worse than accepting 3 cents on the dollar. Christie was either taking orders from Republican bagmen, or trying to prove himself to the oil barons, of which Exxon has been shown to be the worst. What kind of attorney general would just let the governor insert himself into a process that has nothing to do with his office? I think now that the Feds are done with Ferguson, time for a little focus on King Christie, who discriminates against ALL his subjects, not just the poor ones...
4
I agree totally with your contempt for this action by Governor Christie, but I have a completely different take-away concerning what it means than "[his associates'] only concern is helping him in his run for the White House."
On the contrary, it seems to me that this action of rushing in at almost the last moment to scotch a long-running case and settle with a big-time polluter for three cents on the dollar is so outrageous, objectionable and unforgettable that I wonder whether Christie is actually running for president anymore. This seems more like the actions of a man who is out to feather his own nest before it's too late, and doesn't care who notices. Catch me if you can.
On the contrary, it seems to me that this action of rushing in at almost the last moment to scotch a long-running case and settle with a big-time polluter for three cents on the dollar is so outrageous, objectionable and unforgettable that I wonder whether Christie is actually running for president anymore. This seems more like the actions of a man who is out to feather his own nest before it's too late, and doesn't care who notices. Catch me if you can.
3
Exxon "had already been found liable. The only question that remained was, how much would it have to pay?”
Exxon had lost in the liability phase of the trial, was firmly on the hook. What was left to decide in the damages phase was a relatively straightforward calculation of the monetary value of what Exxon was liable for.
The two sides’ economic experts might well disagree on the dollar figures. The serious difference might be in the range of $4 Billion to $9 Billion, depending how the judge resolves a number of questions. But it surely would not have been the range of $250 million and up.
That Exxon was allowed to settle, at this stage, for 3% of the claimed liability really does smell, and needs to be investigated.
Exxon had lost in the liability phase of the trial, was firmly on the hook. What was left to decide in the damages phase was a relatively straightforward calculation of the monetary value of what Exxon was liable for.
The two sides’ economic experts might well disagree on the dollar figures. The serious difference might be in the range of $4 Billion to $9 Billion, depending how the judge resolves a number of questions. But it surely would not have been the range of $250 million and up.
That Exxon was allowed to settle, at this stage, for 3% of the claimed liability really does smell, and needs to be investigated.
106
This is Chris Christie in classic bullying form, waving his ice cream cone in the judges face. It's all about power, Christie power! Leveraged with the anticipated oil oligarchy donations he plans to use for his presidential campaign. Power is all that matters. The state of New Jersey is not even on the radar. Christie stiffs the state in secret negotiations for THREE CENTS on the dollar! And to add insult to injury, he plans to divert the majority of this pathetic settlement to mask his mismanagement of the state's coffers for the last 4 years. It doesn't bother him a bit, so what if entire state of New Jersey is declared a Superfund site because the corporate polluters are given a free pass. Christie doesn't care, cause you know, he's going to Washington.
12
In politics, appearance is everything and this appears to be a big corporation getting its way while the people of New Jersey lose out. Maybe he could have used some of the billions to pay down the pension fund liability...
2
I moved out of New Jersey after the 1970s because of the corruption in state government. This corruption allows Exxon a free pass just as great numbers of other corporations have 'gotten away with it' in the Garden State. And, an impact of that corruption is higher taxes for residents as corporations dodge responsibility and the rich avoid taxes.
9
Chris Christie, A.K.A. Gov. Three Cents.
14
Impeachment may be the only way to stop this guy. From Hoboken to Jersey City to Belleville to Hunterdon County to New Brunswick to the ARC to the PA to the private planes to the Middle East to the mess he has made of the AG's office, to the squandering of Sandy money, credit downgrades, and taking money and favors from individuals with business before the state, Christie's track record is a disaster. I know I am leaving something out. He bought his job as US Attorney and from that perch, bullied his way into the governor's mansion. Never deserved the job and NJ may not be able to withstand another 2 years of him. With this Exxon scandal, he's now imperiling public health.
31
Christie has a history of blatantly abusing his public offices for personal political gain and he's always gotten away with it. This disgraceful and senseless deal (for the public) concerning the Exxon lawsuit smacks of an arrogant corruption by him that shouldn't surprise anyone.
Hopefully the judge will reject this rotten deal but whether he does or does not the U.S. Attorney should be looking into this smelly deal for the criminal activity it reeks of.
Hopefully the judge will reject this rotten deal but whether he does or does not the U.S. Attorney should be looking into this smelly deal for the criminal activity it reeks of.
18
Christie was one of the US AGs Rove shoved into spots vacated when he fired all the US AGs who were registered Democrats, to create his generation of robberbarons. Bushy's brain just keeps on giving.
20
Let us hope that the presiding judge has enough sense to reject the proposed settlement.
12
Campbell got nothing and he is claiming Christie got a bad deal?
1
So Hillary Clinton soaks up a paltry $25 million from the Saudis and is excoriated for being beholden to them; and now Chris Christie punts on billions from Exxon intended for his subjects in New Jersey.
Bottom line: Hillary is too cheap to become POTUS.
Bottom line: Hillary is too cheap to become POTUS.
7
Surely there is some way this can be rendered illegal, especially if Exxon is contributing to any war chest associated with Christie.
5
A little over 30 years ago, I was involved in complex litigation in New Jersey involving the construction of a nuclear power plant that had massive cost overruns. When we were on the threshold of getting the plant cancelled, the Governor's office injected itself in the litigation, pushed those aside who had been working on the matter for years (and therefore knew the most about it).
Aside from the fact that it was a politically inspired bad deal for the public, the collateral impact was a destruction of the professional staff who had worked on the case. One, who blew the whistle on how bad the deal was, was immediately fired. Others, in sympathy, resigned. Still others lost morale when they saw their years of hard work on the case go down the tubes.
New Jersey will always be New Jersey. The State Constitution does not provide for an independent Attorney General. He is a puppet of the Governor. As they say, a dead fish starts to rot from its head. I feel badly for those who devoted years to this case on behalf of the New Jersey citizens. They deserved better.
Aside from the fact that it was a politically inspired bad deal for the public, the collateral impact was a destruction of the professional staff who had worked on the case. One, who blew the whistle on how bad the deal was, was immediately fired. Others, in sympathy, resigned. Still others lost morale when they saw their years of hard work on the case go down the tubes.
New Jersey will always be New Jersey. The State Constitution does not provide for an independent Attorney General. He is a puppet of the Governor. As they say, a dead fish starts to rot from its head. I feel badly for those who devoted years to this case on behalf of the New Jersey citizens. They deserved better.
296
This is astonishing, whether or not there were any backdoor shenanigans going on. But on second thought, jumping into a case that was already going well for the state in order to collect a pittance on a debt is something that seems so very Chris Christie.
115
Several questions: (1) If numerous Fortune 100 companies came to the table, including Chevron, DuPont and Honeywell, and resolved their liability promptly--can they claim that Exxon received unfair advantage from the state? (2) Can Christie and his chief counsel be sued for not upholding state laws and the will of the people? (3) And if so, can the deal be undone on legal grounds? (4) Finally, what other funds has Exxon (and "employees") generally given to Christie--and the Republican Governors Assn? This whole thing smells of money going into Christie's coffers. If he was going to receive a considerable payout through Exxon (as dark money) it also explains why he didn't think he had to gravel and genuflect before the billionaires funding Republican aspirants for president as others did.
119
Millions of retirees and union pention funds own exxon stock. Governor Christy is being compassionate trying to balance his states damages to the people in New Jersey that will be hurt
by a large settlement. His leadership is what the people of New Jersey truly need. Christy is proving his insight of the valules his constituents expect from a dynamic leader. The democrats of New Jersey deserve this type of leadership. Hehe.
by a large settlement. His leadership is what the people of New Jersey truly need. Christy is proving his insight of the valules his constituents expect from a dynamic leader. The democrats of New Jersey deserve this type of leadership. Hehe.
I would not count on any of the "new people", my friend, to make a stink; they all hang together pretty tightly and realize they will just use the "obstruct and shake down" method themselves next time. No need to spoil the party when their swag bag is sure to come. These new people seem to think a lot alike, even seemingly having the "rich white Jesus" kind of religion, they are now free to shove down all of our throats as we ask them nicely for our "lady parts" meds.
It would be interesting to know how much the other Fortune 500 companies ponied up for the damage they allegedly caused. If the state settled with them for $250,000 apiece, it would be difficult to make a case that Exxon owed $8 billion. You also have to consider the probability that any judgment issued by the court would be sustained on appeal. And you also have to consider that Exxon didn't own the allegedly offending sites, and its possible that the actual owner had already paid for the damages.
The article is big on innuendo, but light on facts.
The article is big on innuendo, but light on facts.
Classic:
"Mr. Christie’s chief counsel inserted himself into the case, elbowed aside the attorney general and career employees who had developed and prosecuted the litigation, and cut the deal favorable to Exxon."
"While he was chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2014, the group received $500,000 from Exxon and more from company employees. While this was not Exxon’s first contribution to the group, this donation was made at a time when the New Jersey trial was pending."
Of course, people could read the whole article and marvel at the setup for themselves, but one "verified" commenter has already done his best to change the subject.
I'm sure anyone looking to raise funds for a presidential run will be happy to have "made his bones" with big fossil. But it won't do the rest of us much good.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mr. McConnell is counseling states to violate the law. It seems truth is subject to fiction. These guys are traitors and we need to stop supporting them.
"Mr. Christie’s chief counsel inserted himself into the case, elbowed aside the attorney general and career employees who had developed and prosecuted the litigation, and cut the deal favorable to Exxon."
"While he was chairman of the Republican Governors Association in 2014, the group received $500,000 from Exxon and more from company employees. While this was not Exxon’s first contribution to the group, this donation was made at a time when the New Jersey trial was pending."
Of course, people could read the whole article and marvel at the setup for themselves, but one "verified" commenter has already done his best to change the subject.
I'm sure anyone looking to raise funds for a presidential run will be happy to have "made his bones" with big fossil. But it won't do the rest of us much good.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mr. McConnell is counseling states to violate the law. It seems truth is subject to fiction. These guys are traitors and we need to stop supporting them.
393
At this point, it is not about supporting them, but about putting them in prison for crimes against the US tax payers.
13
And yet these people are reelected, and more of their coterie are elected. Over and over.
3
The NYT has accurately reported that ExxonMobil has made no political contributions to any NJ politician since 2009. It is quite easy to say the case is worth $9B if that is what you want to believe. Collecting it is another story.
2
Mr. Campbell writes: "When Mr. Christie became governor in 2010, I hoped that as a former prosecutor he would understand how important the case was to environmental law enforcement. "
This resolution is not simply about what the state can get out of Exxon, as you imply. It is about the enforcement of environmental law and fairness. If the settlement is allowed to stand, corporations will take away that The People lack the will to hold corporations fully accountable for environmental degradation.
This resolution is not simply about what the state can get out of Exxon, as you imply. It is about the enforcement of environmental law and fairness. If the settlement is allowed to stand, corporations will take away that The People lack the will to hold corporations fully accountable for environmental degradation.
299
@Bill: "No political contributions to any NJ politician since 2009" except for those made through the backdoor. Have we checked Gov. Christie's campaign war chest lately? I'm certain there are all sorts of goodies in there from contributors whose identities aren't precisely reported. What other reason could there possibly be for this or any other governor to decline to pursue hundreds of millions of dollars that are likely owed to his state by corporations as wealthy as Exxon?
133
If you had a 50-50 shot of winning $9 billion or some number in the billions, why would you settle for 3 cents on the dollar? You'd have to be an idiot. Christie wants the endorsement of the national GOP party and only a fool would believe that Exxon is not one of the GOP paymasters at the national level.
The best hope is that the judge rejects this farce of a settlement.
The best hope is that the judge rejects this farce of a settlement.
77
That is the Chris Christie way,
The richest folk never do pay,
Raise their taxes? No!
Exxon? A soft blow!
Chris insists the wealthy make hay!
The richest folk never do pay,
Raise their taxes? No!
Exxon? A soft blow!
Chris insists the wealthy make hay!
211
@Larry Eisenberg: Welcome back. It's great to read your limericks again. And it is so true, when one reads also in today's NYTimes that the Ferguson city and police were using the poor for revenue generation more so than "to serve and protect" its citizens.
6
And what's more Christie has no shame
To get to the White House his aim,
He does aim to please
The Rich and with ease
He will not leave with what he came.
To get to the White House his aim,
He does aim to please
The Rich and with ease
He will not leave with what he came.
9