Should traveling Gov. Chris Christie retain how powers while out of state?
TRAVELIN’ MAN: Gov. Christie is making a lot of out of state trips ahead of the 2014 election.
By Josh Kaib | WatchdogWire.com
Out of state, out of power?
Gov. Chris Christie’s out-of-state travel continues to attract attention. As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Gov. Christie is campaigning all across America for GOP gubernatorial candidates.
But each time he must temporarily give his powers as governor to his lieutenant. He doesn’t like this, and now an Assemblyman is seeking to change the law.
There is no need for an acting governor, said Gov. Chris Christie at a Sept. 18 State House press conference. He explained that with technology he is never really unreachable. Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Red Bank) agreed and he has introduced legislation (ACR197) that would give voters the opportunity to amend the constitution to allow the governor to keep his or her executive powers when out of state.
Under current law, the lieutenant governor becomes the acting governor when the elected governor is not in New Jersey.
“We would treat our governor the same way the country now treats the president. The president is the president wherever he is including out of the country,” O’Scanlon said. “It’s time to think about permitting or mandating that the governor be the governor wherever he is.”Under current law, the lieutenant governor becomes the acting governor when the elected governor is not in New Jersey.
The push for this is not in any way meant as a criticism of Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and would preserve the office of lieutenant governor. It would simply allow the governor to retain his powers when out of state.
