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[NYShoreGuy]

TRENTON ? State Sen. Richard Codey said Gov. Chris Christie insulted the office of the governor this week when he apparently took revenge against him.

“It’s time to leave it alone” said Codey (D-Essex) . “It’s demeaning to the office, one of which both of us shared.”

Codey’s comments come in response to a Star-Ledger report on Wednesday outlining how the Christie administration cut off Codey’s security detail and fired one of his close friends along with his cousin.

The now-escalating feud started last week when Christie accused Codey and other Essex County Senators of blocking his appointment for education commissioner. Codey responded by calling the governor a liar, noting that he already signed off on the appointment in January.

Codey said the governor’s actions were clearly an act of revenge.

“Obviously, you can put two and two together,” said Codey. “But if you want to come after me, that’s one thing, but to come after my family and friends is another.”

On Monday, the State Police informed Codey that he would no longer be afforded a security detail, which he relied on occasionally since he left the governor’s office in 2006.

That same day, Lawrence DeMarzo was fired from his $107,406 job as deputy director at the Division of Consumer Affairs, according to sources who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the actions. DeMarzo is a longtime friend of Codey’s and once served as his deputy chief of staff while he was governor.
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Christie also announced Monday that he was sending Attorney General Paula Dow to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on a temporary assignment to help rein in abuse. She is replacing Christopher Hartwyk, Codey’s cousin, who was stepping down from his $215,000 position as deputy counsel at the authority.

Codey has been rumored to be a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2013, but he says he does not believe that had anything to do with the governor’s actions.

Christie’s office could not be immediately reached for comment today.

But on Wednesday the governor declined to comment directly on his motive, but not before taking another jab at the former governor.

“What I’ve learned about legislators over time, and particularly about Sen. Codey, is that they seem to be much more worried about the perks of the job than they are about actually getting the job done,” Christie said at a news conference in Pennsauken.

 

[SnakeTom]

Codey is probably the only Democrat that might be able to defeat Christie in a general election. Only thing is that Codey would never get the nomination as the Dem party in NJ is controlled by the Norcross machine which has been at war with Codey for years. Of course George Norcross was the prime backer of both Governor's Mcreevey & Corzine who did such bang up jobs.

By the way I would not count Christie out of the GOP Presidential sweepstakes. If there is a deadlock he appeals to both sides & he won't have to deal with the primary debates & other Republicans taking shots at him before the convention. Actually he is now perfectly positioned for a brokered convention since the conservatives love him but he has endorsed the more moderate Mitt Romney.

Tom K

 

[SPK145]

I don't like Christie going after Codey. Codey is one of the very few good ones (not without his faults) and is a stand-up guy.

 

[Section112]

I like Christie but this is unsavory. He is after the other guy Rice? and knows him and Codey are tight. Christie's hands are essentially tied on so many things with a Dem legislature that one of the few things he can do are things like this to try and get things done. IMO he has taken it too far.

This legislative courtesy crap though where these guys can hold up nominations is just the dumbest thing ever. Vote yes or no and move on. That is the real problem here.

 

[SnakeTom]

I agree with you about legislative courtesy, but how does it differ from the fillabuster rule to prevent votes in Congress.

TK

 

[Section112]

I think it differs because there is no defined end in sight. The legislators can simply hold up a vote as long as they want and are not required to do anything more ever.

Essentially Rep. Rice wants something. And Christie is not willing to give it to him. That's how it really works.

It is the job of the legislature to carry out the electorates wishes and they have not done a good job of policing themselves. If they asked 99% of the folks in their electorate if senatorial courtesy was a good thing, 98% of the 99% would say no just get something done. But it's another way to barter and another way to have power which most of these career politicians love.
This post was edited on 12/16 1:06 PM by Section112

 

[Section112]

There was a good discussion in the Star Ledger today with Kean and Byrne about this issue and surprisingly Byrne almost backs Christie with his comments. He basically says that the Governor should be able to make appointments and pick judges etc and that the senatorial courtesy has gone too far. Then Kean responds and says unless the appointment is a suspect in an investigation or has a checkered past, the congress should approve them as that is a governors right to make appointments.

Surprising but interesting points of view from two past governors. Could not find the link or I would have linked it here.

 

[SnakeTom]

I think Senator Ronald Rice's problem with the appointment is that the acting commissioner has refused to appear before the legislative committee to answer questions prior to a vote. Normal procedure is that all cabinat appointees appear before the appropriate committee. While I don't approve of senatorial courtesy, if this is correct the Governor and nominee are out of line here. The legislators are certainly entitled to testimony before voting on the nominees for important offices.

Tom K

 

[Section112]

If that is the case then true. I have not seen that in any of the articles that I have read though. Shoddy reporting or I just have not read the article?

 

[SnakeTom]

Originally posted by Section112:
If that is the case then true. I have not seen that in any of the articles that I have read though. Shoddy reporting or I just have not read the article?

I read that in the Star Ledger. I believe it was in this Sunday's edition. I think it said that Rice is the Chairman of the Education Committee. I also read in a different article that Sen Codey had signed off on the appointment quite a while ago and that the nominee was the Acting Commissioner anyway with full power and getting the full salary aloted to that position. So my question is why is the Governor going after Codey if his argument is with Senator Rice. Sounds very political since Codey may well run for Governor down the road.

Personally my biggest problem with the Governor now and in the past as US Attorney is his penchant for grandstanding. In that respect he is very much like another possible contender Corey Booker. Both should maybe spend less time before the camera's and more time doing their jobs.

TK