By Richard A. Lee
Chris
Christie was a little late in coming to the table, but this week he joined the
ranks of Jim McGreevey, Christie Whitman and other New Jersey governors whose
use of state helicopters have generated controversy. In just a few days, the
circumstances surrounding the current controversy have become topics for state
and national news stories and fodder for the Governor's political opponents.
As
has been reported in multiple news outlets, Governor Christie used a state
helicopter to travel to his son's high school baseball game in Montvale. The
trip touched off controversy for several reasons. It was an expensive way to
travel -- at taxpayer expense -- to a non-governmental event, especially for a
Governor who has been vocal about the need for New Jersey to control spending.
In addition, the primary functions of the state's helicopter fleet are homeland
security and emergency medical transportation. A trip to a high school baseball
game fits into neither category.
In
the span of a few days, we've had Democrats calling for hearings and
investigations, the State Police defending the trip, and the Governor first
refusing to reimburse the state, and then pulling an about-face and writing a
check to cover the costs of traveling to not one, but two of his son's baseball
games.
Although
the circumstances may differ from what occurred during previous
administrations, the result was the same. Once again, a New Jersey Governor’s
use of a state helicopter has been the source of controversy. But it doesn’t
have to be that way; we just have to take a different approach to the issue.
Instead of holding hearings, reviewing flight logs, and demanding reimbursement, New Jersey might want
to consider providing its Governor with a state helicopter for his or
her exclusive use (with clear provisions requiring that the state be reimbursed
for non-governmental travel).
On
the surface, such a move runs counter to the current fiscal climate in which
spending cuts and smaller government are the mantra. But think of it this way: The price tag of the helicopter Christie used was $12.5
million. It’s a big number that becomes smaller when you place it in the
context of a $30 billion state budget. And we’re not going to be buying a new
chopper every year. Granted, at about $2,500 an hour, the cost of flying by
helicopter could add up quickly, but it still would be a small portion of the
overall budget.
From
an efficiency standpoint, it makes sense too. As taxpayers, don’t we want to
get our money’s worth out of our governors? Wouldn’t we rather have them get to
more places to do their job instead of spending time in a car?
In
addition, giving governors their own helicopters would eliminate the inevitable
controversies that occur when they use choppers that are responsible for
homeland security and emergency medical transports. Governors serve as the chief
executive of the state and have critical responsibilities and duties. They
shouldn’t have to hitch rides to do their job.
New Jersey already provides our governors
with more power than their counterparts throughout the nation. Under terms of
the state constitution, New Jersey governors have the power of line-item veto;
they appoint judges and other state officials, and until recently the governor
was the only statewide elected office.
The
world was much different when the current state constitution was drafted in
1947, giving New Jersey governors the broad
powers at their discretion today. The idea of providing governors with a state
helicopter would have been far-fetched at that time. But it’s a different era
today, and perhaps now is the time to give the idea serious consideration.
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Richard A. Lee is
Communications Director of the Hall
Institute. A former State House reporter and Deputy Communications
Director for the Governor, he also teaches courses in media, politics and
government at Rutgers University, where he is completing work on a Ph.D. in
media studies. Read more of Rich’s columns at richleeonline and follow him
on Twitter.
June 3, 2011, Fairfax, VA—Americans
for Limited Government President Bill Wilson released the following
statement on the unemployment situation in our nation:
