Christie, Palatucci, & Jersey

Bill Palatucci, friend of NJ Gov. Chris Christie, left Community Education Centers for the law firm of Gibbons, PC. (For details click here or here.)

Community Education Centers, CEC, calls itself "A leading provider of offender reentry" is the company to which New Jersey has outsourced halfway houses.

It is also the company that allows felons to - in words Mitt Romney might use - "Self-Parole" and "Self-Pardon" - to walk away at will. The New York Times covered this at length. The Times, not known for sensationalist reporting, described Community Education Centers half-way houses as places where "bedlam" reigns (here).

Palatucci said that his resignation from CEC had nothing to do with Governor Christie's re-election campaign. He also said that he wants to have time to work on Republican campaigns in 2013.

If Gov. Christie runs his campaign the way Community Education Centers runs their half-way houses I expect Mr. Christie to lose his re-election campaign.

Mr. Palatucci and Mr. Christie go back a long way. Back in 1987 Christie joined the law firm of Dughi, Hewit & Palatucci. In '93 he was named a partner in the firm. In '98 he registered as a lobbyist for the firm. Between 1999 and 2001, Christie and Palatucci lobbied on behalf of GPU Energy for deregulation of New Jersey's electric and gas industry; the Securities Industry Association to block the inclusion of securities fraud under the state's Consumer Fraud Act; Hackensack University Medical Center for state grants, and the University of Phoenix for a New Jersey higher education license. in 2000, Christie and Palatucci worked as fundraisers for George W. Bush.

Corzine v Christie

Gov. Jon Corzine supports families like mine and citizens like me, Bush's former Prosecutor Chris Christie supports the Insurance Companies, which act like families like Don Vito Corleone's. As President Obama, Vice President Biden, and former-President Clinton highlighted last week, those differences could not be more clear:

Corzine: Expanding Health Insurance Jon Corzine expanded health coverage for over 100,000 more kids and signed legislation to require insurance companies to cover autism screenings.	Christie Sides With Insurers Chris Christie would give insurance companies free rein to drop coverage for critical procedures like mammograms and autism screenings and would give them $100 million in tax breaks.
Corzine is Protecting Paid Family Leave Jon Corzine is one of a handful of governors to pass paid family leave that lets people care for newborn babies or sick relatives while still getting paid.	Christie Isn't Standing with NJ Families Chris Christie opposes paid family leave, and would allow hospitals to discharge new mothers less than 24 hours after they've given birth.
Corzine Defends The Right To Choose Jon Corzine strongly supports a woman’s right to choose.	Christie is Anti-Choice Chris Christie supports a constitutional amendment to ban abortion.
Corzine Has Provided Historic Tax Relief Jon Corzine has provided more property tax relief than any other Governor in New Jersey history.	Christie's $2 Billion In New Taxes Chris Christie said he would side with right wing governors and reject $5 billion in federal stimulus funds, including money for education, which would lead to a direct $2 billion increase in property taxes.
Corzine Supports Responsible Gun Laws Jon Corzine fought for a one handgun per month law.	Christie Is Backed By The Gun Lobby Chris Christie is backed by the gun lobby and even opposes banning guns that fire bullets to pierce a cop’s bulletproof vest.
Corzine Has Made Education A Priority Although he cut state spending, Jon Corzine increased funding for New Jersey schools by $1.8 billion and expanded pre-K education.	Christie Thinks It's "Babysitting" Chris Christie calls early childhood education "babysitting" and his rejection of federal stimulus funds would have undercut the real progress we've made in educating our kids.
Corzine Stands With President Obama Jon Corzine is endorsed by President Barack Obama, and is in step with our President's vision for our country. Together, they will work to lead our state and our country out of this global recession.	Christie Stands With President Bush Chris Christie would side with other right-wing governors to obstruct Barack Obama's agenda and would have rejected federal stimulus funds, driving up our property taxes by over $2 billion.