During a television interview this morning, Gov. Chris Christie defended his decision to reduce payments to the public-worker pension system to balance the new state budget — and vowed to introduce more pension reforms at some point this summer.
"We need to fix this system, or it will eat us alive," the Republican governor said during an appearance on "Squawk Box" on CNBC that also included questions about his possible 2016 presidential campaign and the George Washington Bridge scandal. "We need to speak in stark, plain, understandable terms to people. They will get it. They will understand, and when they do, empower us to take action."
The appearance came a day after Christie signed a $32.5 billion state budget, vetoing a pair of proposals from Democratic lawmakers that would have raised taxes on millionaire and businesses to cover a revenue shortfall. Instead, Christie — who vowed to avoid making any tax hikes — reduced $1.57 billion from a scheduled payment to the public-worker pension system to fill the gap.
The spending plan is 1.2 percent smaller than the one the governor signed last year. But the pension cut could lead to downgrades in New Jersey's credit rating and a tough court battle against public-sector unions.
Christie brushed the downgrades aside, saying he doesn't "put a lot of stock in credit agencies."
"I don't think about it at all when balancing a budget," He said. "I'm not going to raise taxes on the people of New Jersey and drive them out."
Democrats also criticized Christie for making the pension cuts despite signing a reform law in 2011 that gave public workers a contractual right to full pension payments.
But the governor stressed that he had been saying for months that the system needs further changes and low revenue projections forced his hand in having to make the reductions. Over the next few weeks, he said, he will travel around the state presenting a new reform plan.
"There are a number of alternatives," Christie said. "I will lay them out this summer.
"What the 40-year-old state worker should be concerned about right now is getting reform," he added. "Because if they just put their heads in the sand, then we will have a Detroit-like problem in New Jersey, in Illinois, in California, and lots of other states across this country."
As for his potential bid for the White House? Christie said he still hasn't made a decision yet — nor would he say whether he believes the worst of the George Washington Bridge scandal that has hounded his administration for months is behind him.
"I don't get to determine what's behind me or not," the governor said. "I'm not running for anything at the moment."
A state legislative committee and federal prosecutors are investigating whether members of Christie's staff and inner circle helped orchestrate a plan to close down lanes of the nation's busiest bridge last September, causing days of heavy traffic, in a case of political payback.
The governor has denied any personal involvement. On Jan. 9, he fired his deputy chief of staff after emails leaked showing she may have been linked to the closings and cut ties with his former campaign manager.
Christie appears to be trying to shake the scandal in recent months. He has traveled to 19 states since November as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, raising money for GOP gubernatorial candidates. And last month, he danced with host Jimmy Fallon on "The Tonight Show" in a segment that launched a viral video seen by millions of people.
The governor said when he does travel around the nation, people don't mention the bridge controversy.
"They know who I am," Christie said this morning. "I don't change who I am. Since Jan. 9, there hasn't been one new fact that has contradicted what I said. Because I told the truth, as I always do."
Christie also said the national Republican party — which has become heavily divided between conservatives and moderates in recent years — "all too often has been too worried about winning the argument than the elections."
"You need a leader say: 'I'm going to get job done. Follow me,'" he added.
The governor wavered on the question of whether he is a conservative or moderate.
"Those label matters to guys like you," he said. "But they don't matter to guys like me. I've got a whole range of opinions on a number of topics. I believe I am a conservative. There are others in my state who will say I am a moderate. In the end, be who you are."