Former Governor Byrne: Controversy Over Christie’s Chopper Ride Is Bullsh*t

AP Report: Christie and GOP reimbursing state for cost of flight

By Art Gallagher

I ran into former Governor Brendan Byrne earlier today at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick where I had a business meeting.

“Hello Governor,” I said while zipping my fly, “what do you think of the controversy over Christie’s helicopter ride?”

“It’s bullshit,” he exclaimed while drying his hands, “that’s what I said when I was governor.  If Corzine had been using the helicopter he wouldn’t have gotten hurt.”

We weren’t exactly in a locker room, but as close as you can get to one in a law center I guess.  I appreciated Byrne’s candid venacular. 

The media and partisan outrage over Christie’s use of the state police helicopter is bullshit.

The Associated Press is reporting that Christie and the state GOP are reimbursing the state for the cost of the helicopter ride.

No doubt the reimbursement is being made to quiet the bullshit.  There is serious state business to be done.  The budget.  Pension and benefit reform. A new collective bargaining agreement.   The ridiculous nonsense over the governor’s use of the helicopter has become a major distraction.  Since there have been no natural disasters (the tornadoes missed NJ and hit Massachusetts), terrorist attacks, corruption arrests or revelations of love children to knock the helicopter ride off the airwaves and front pages, Christie and the GOP did the right thing paying for the chopper rides.  Not because the flight was inappropriate, but because the hullabaloo is a distraction from important state business.

If it had been Frank Pallone or Steve Rothman who tweeted a picture of his package to a coed instead of NY Congressman Andrew Wiener, Christie’s chopper ride would not be dominating the news and there would be no reimbursement until the next ride during a slow news cycle.

Christie spokesman Mike Drewiniak said in an email explaining the reimbursement:

Also, though the Superintendent of the State Police noted yesterday the travel does not cost taxpayers additional dollars, the Governor understands the sensitivity about this kind of thing and believes he owes it to the public to ensure that this is not a distraction.  As such, the Governor is reimbursing for the last two trips dated 5/27 and 5/31 in the amounts of $919.20 and $1232.30, respectively. 

(emphasis added)

Drewniak also released a list of instances in which State Police helicopters have been used by the Governor’s office since Christie took office.  33 flights were by the Governor.  1 by the Lt. Governor and one was for transporting staff between consecutive press conferences at the Meadowlands and Atlantic City.  You can download the list here.

Some of the active MMM commenters have indicated that they think State Police Col. Rick Fuentes statement that the governor’s helicopter rides do not cost the taxpayers additional money is disingenuous.  I disagree.  That kind of thing is too easy to verify.  I’m sure some industrious reporter is checking it out now.  If Fuentes made it up we’ll read all about it and he will lose his job.  If he is telling the truth, as I believe, we’ll hear no more about it.

I want the Governor to use helicopter more than he does.  If it makes him more productive at his job, or God forbid, gives him more quality time with his family, I’m all for it.   That the State Police have to put in hours flying the choppers anyway makes it a no brainer.

The opposition to helicopter use is petty partisan bullshit.

The demogougues who are invoking the working Moms and Dad’s who are sitting in traffic while missing their kid’s games are full of it.  I don’t believe the majority of New Jerseyans are that petty.  The media is that petty.  The politicians are that petty.  I don’t believe the people are.  I know Governor Byrne is not that petty.

Posted: June 2nd, 2011 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Chris Christie | Tags: Brenden Byrne, Chris Christie, Helicopter | 7 Comments »

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