Christie vetoes N.J. measure to ban gestation crates for pigs

    By
  • ASSOCIATED PRESS
    • November 28, 2014
  • The sun peaks through the clouds the moment Mr. and Mrs. Santa turn on the Parkway. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    The sun peaks through the clouds the moment Mr. and Mrs. Santa turn on the Parkway. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • hildren watch as Mr. and Mrs. Santa make their way past. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    hildren watch as Mr. and Mrs. Santa make their way past. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Mr. and Mrs. Santa are seen clearly enjoying the attention they get as they ride up the Parkway in a sled pulled by Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Mr. and Mrs. Santa are seen clearly enjoying the attention they get as they ride up the Parkway in a sled pulled by Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Letters to Santa are the only mail picked up by UPSP on Thanksgiving Day. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Letters to Santa are the only mail picked up by UPSP on Thanksgiving Day. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • This human powered vehicle was also part of the parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    This human powered vehicle was also part of the parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Crowds that line the parade route are seen reflected in one of the instruments of a marching band. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Crowds that line the parade route are seen reflected in one of the instruments of a marching band. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • A marching band performed for the crowds on the Parkway. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    A marching band performed for the crowds on the Parkway. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Floats, balloons, marching bands and crowd scenes during the 95th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Floats, balloons, marching bands and crowd scenes during the 95th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Officers with the Philadelphia Police Department made sure everything was safe along the parade route. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Officers with the Philadelphia Police Department made sure everything was safe along the parade route. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Crowds of people line the parade route at the 95th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Crowds of people line the parade route at the 95th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Anna and Elsa from Disney on Ice presents 'Frozen'. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Anna and Elsa from Disney on Ice presents 'Frozen'. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Floats, balloons, marching bands and crowd scenes during the 95th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Floats, balloons, marching bands and crowd scenes during the 95th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • These kids request each passing balloon to 'spin it' in front of them. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    These kids request each passing balloon to 'spin it' in front of them. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Balloons float above the parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Balloons float above the parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Balloons float above the parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Balloons float above the parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • A scene before the start of the parade, as the balloons still sit on tarps on the street. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    A scene before the start of the parade, as the balloons still sit on tarps on the street. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • One of the marching bands is seen passing Suburban Station on Market Street. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    One of the marching bands is seen passing Suburban Station on Market Street. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Former N’Sync member Lance Bass waves as he stands on the float that rides him down the Parkway. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Former N’Sync member Lance Bass waves as he stands on the float that rides him down the Parkway. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Miss America Outstanding Teen 2015, Olivia McMillan, Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev and other local state Misses made and appearance at the parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Miss America Outstanding Teen 2015, Olivia McMillan, Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev and other local state Misses made and appearance at the parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Miss America Outstanding Teen 2015, Olivia McMillan, waves to the crowds at Love Park. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Miss America Outstanding Teen 2015, Olivia McMillan, waves to the crowds at Love Park. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Miss America 2015, Kira Kazantsev. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Mayor Micheal Nutter and his wife Lisa ride a horse-drawn carriage ahead of the parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Mayor Micheal Nutter and his wife Lisa ride a horse-drawn carriage ahead of the parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • The parade route takes the floats, balloons and marching bands from JFK Boulevard, past Love Park, and up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to end at the Art Museum. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    The parade route takes the floats, balloons and marching bands from JFK Boulevard, past Love Park, and up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to end at the Art Museum. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Floats, balloons, marching bands and crowd scenes during the 95th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Floats, balloons, marching bands and crowd scenes during the 95th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • Floats, balloons, marching bands and crowd scenes during the 95th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    Floats, balloons, marching bands and crowd scenes during the 95th annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

  • A band in Eagles gear performed from the back of a pick-up. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

    A band in Eagles gear performed from the back of a pick-up. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a politically charged bill that would have banned the use of certain pig cages in the state.

The potential 2016 presidential contender called the bill a “solution in search of a problem” Friday.

Matthew Dominguez, the public policy manager for the Humane Society of the United States, had urged the governor to sign the measure into law.

“Gestation crates are not being used in the state and we want to keep it that way,” he said. “The Garden State has a proud heritage of treating animals right. They have strong animal cruelty statutes, and for this practice to remain legal gives the state and the pork producers in the state a black eye.”

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The measure would have banned pig farmers from using gestation crates, which are so small pregnant pigs can’t turn around.

The contraptions are widespread in Iowa, a state that’s home to the nation’s first presidential nominating caucuses.

Christie’s response was being watched as a gauge of his presidential ambitions.

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