Cafero, Foley and McKinney point to Christie’s “leadership”

Hartford, CT – Connecticut Republicans love to sing the praises of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie… almost as much as they love to falsely attack Governor Malloy. Yesterday, Republicans panned the Governor over revenue projections that were built upon consensus revenue estimates and adopted as part of the Republican Alternative Budget Proposal. And today, it was announced that Chris Christie faces a $600 million budget shortfall, in part due to revenue projections not meeting expectations. While New Jersey now faces a $600 million shortfall, Connecticut will still have a budget surplus despite reduced revenue collections.

In case the CT GOP forgot, or just to cut through their blatant hypocrisy, here is what some of their leaders have said about Christie’s financial leadership:

Tom Foley:

“I have said to people, I want to be the Chris Christie of Connecticut,” Foley said. “I think he’s become something of an icon of the Republican Party for some of the things he’s done down in New Jersey.”

Larry Cafero:

While discussing possible options to address budget shortfalls in 2010, Cafero said, “Look to New Jersey, baby.”

John McKinney:

McKinney said Malloy should push for spending reductions, stating “Chris Christie, a Republican Governor in New Jersey, has done just that. So that shatters the myth that we have to raise taxes.”  

Background:

Foley Called Gov. Chris Christie A Shining Example Of The Tough-Love And Fiscally Responsible Brand Of Leadership The Country Needs, Stating, “I Want To Be The Chris Christie Of Connecticut.” “From the land of Snooki, the Vince Lombardi rest area and The Boss, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie entered the fray of Connecticut’s increasingly cantankerous gubernatorial race Thursday night at a Greenwich fundraiser for Tom Foley. […] Foley basked in his ‘Jerseylicious’ moment, calling Christie a shining example of the tough-love and fiscally responsible brand of Republican leadership that the country needs now more than ever. ‘I have said to people, I want to be the Chris Christie of Connecticut,’ Foley said. ‘I think he’s become something of an icon of the Republican Party for some of the things he’s done down in New Jersey.’” [Greenwich Time, 10/14/10]

McKinney Said Malloy Should Push For Spending Reductions, Stating “Chris Christie, A Republican Governor In New Jersey, Has Done Just That. So That Shatters The Myth That We Have To Raise Taxes.”  The Fairfield Citizen reported in February 2011 that, “Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Newtown, said Malloy should push for further spending reductions.  ‘The marketing has been that our situation is so dire there’s no way to get out of it without raising taxes, yet Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat governor in New York, is proposing to do just that,’ McKinney said. ‘Chris Christie, a Republican governor in New Jersey, has done just that. So that shatters the myth that we have to raise taxes. Then the question is: Do we have the willingness and strength to look at further reductions to our spending?’”  [Fairfield Citizen, 2/16/2011]

While Discussing Possible Options To Address Budget Shortfalls In 2010, Cafero Said “Look To New Jersey, Baby.”  “House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. habitually hammers the Democratic majority for not moving quickly enough to cut back spending to avert the shortfall that awaits in July 2011. […]‘You’re looking at right now a 4 billion per year structural hole,’ Cafero said on Thursday. ‘And you’re looking at right now no action taken to mitigate that hole. It is a more different situation than anyone has ever faced. So, if they’re relying on this notion that, “Eh, governors don’t like to lay off,” look to New Jersey, baby.’” [The Day (New London), 5/2/10]

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