Christie Has Lap-Band Surgery

Governor Chris Christie and Danny Shields in Highlands last week. Shields, an owner of Windansea, is Sen. Jennifer Beck’s husband. facebook photo.

Governor Chris Christie secretly underwent lap-band surgery in February.  He has lost 40 pounds since, according to a report in the New York Post.

Christie told NYP that he underwent the aggressive weight loss procedure because he recently turned 50 and wanted to be around for his kids.  He said it had nothing to do the presidential ambitions.

“I’ve struggled with this issue for 20 years,” he said. “For me, this is about turning 50 and looking at my children and wanting to be there for them.”

He also insisted that, contrary to what observers may say, the effort to slim down was not motivated by thoughts of a presidential bid.

“It’s so much more important than that,” he said.

The governor went to great lengths to keep the procedure secret.  He did not go to his surgeon’s office, having the doctor visit him at his Mendam home.  He checked into the surgery center under an assumed name.

The surgery took 40 minutes on the morning of February 16.  Christie was home in the afternoon after having a silicone tube placed around the top of his stomach.

Before having the surgery, Christie spoke privately with Jets coach Rex Ryan.  Ryan had the procedure in 2010 and has lost 100 lbs. since.  Dr. George Fielding of the NYU Medical Center’s Weight Management Program performed the surgery on both men.

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NJ Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill

The New Jersey Senate passed S-1, “The Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act,” on a 24-16 vote, according to Poltickernj.

Republican Senators Jennifer Beck and Diane Allen crossed the aisle to vote “YES” on the bill that the Democratic legislative leadership declared was their top priority of the year.  Democratic Senators Jeff Van Drew and Ronald Rice voted “NO” with the Republican caucus.

The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the bill on Thursday. 

Monmouth County Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon will be absent for the vote on Thursday as he will be traveling to attend Beck’s wedding.  Beck is getting married, to a man, Highlands restaurateur Danny Shields, on Sunday February 18th.  O’Scanlon told MMM that he is not ducking the issue, though he has not yet decided how he will vote should the bill come before the legislature for a veto override.

Governor Christie has said he will veto the bill and that he wants the issue put to referendum in November.

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