Christie resumes town hall meetings with stop in Moorestown

Gov. Chris Christie returned to his signature style Wednesday as he met with 500 residents in Moorestown for a town hall.

During the 128th such forum of his administration, the governor preached again about the need to restructure New Jersey’s pension and benefit systems, a topic he discussed at length during his state budget address Tuesday.

 

Realigning the systems that provide pensions and health care benefits to state workers is one of the most important remaining tasks for his administration, Christie said.

“What I am saying to public-sector workers is we want you to have the pension you are counting on. But if you don’t change the system and be able to fix it, it’s going to be gone,” he said. “It will go broke.”

Christie said he is completely committed to the job of leading the state, even as he considers a possible campaign for president.

And he answered critics who said New Jersey’s national reputation is climbing at the expense of state residents because of the governor’s extensive travels as he considers whether to join the Republican candidates who already have thrown their hats in the ring.

“I’m going to need a job after this. Just because I’m going to have to consider what that job is going to be doesn’t mean I’m not on the job, doing that job every day here,” Christie said. “I can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

On hiatus from the town halls since August, Christie said he’s back on the road in New Jersey because he wants to reconnect with the people he represents.