December 19, 2016
A controversial piece of legislation that would have enabled New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to profit from a book deal while still in office will not go to a vote in the legislature, state Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto announced on Monday.
The bill was among two that hit a wall on Monday as legislators grappled with the potential costs and political ramifications of the bills, according to NJ.com.
The book bill came to a halt as debate intensified over its second provision, which would have raised the salaries of state workers — judges, cabinet officials and prosecutors, among others — who have not received raises for varying lengths of time.
Critics of the legislation argued that the bill was a deal brokered to appease both Christie and Democrats at the expense of taxpayers, particularly in light of the state's recent enactment of a gas tax increase.
By law, the governor of New Jersey is prohibited from earning money above his or her $175,000 salary. There has been no indication from Christie that he is even planning to publish a book.
A second bill that would have lifted a requirement for New Jersey businesses and local governments to purchase advertisements in newspapers also reached an impasse during Monday's sessions. Christie supported the legislation on grounds that it would save taxpayers money, but opponents said it would devastate the struggling newspaper industry.
Prieto said Monday the book bill will not be reconsidered. The advertisements bill will be evaluated again when lawmakers return from the holiday break.
