Finally, some reality on the Chris Christie love-fest

[Informed Info]

Originally Posted by Retriever

The Star-Ledger's Kevin Manahan provides some actual fact-checking regarding both the governor's claims and the national media fascination with this overly ambitious politician:

All hail Christie: Governor’s bigger-than-life persona has national media starry-eyed — and missing some facts | NJ.com

Christie recently appeared on “Face the Nation” with courtly Bob Schieffer, a longtime political reporter. Once again, Schieffer allowed Christie to pat himself on the back numerous times while misstating facts. Christie said public employees “got 7 percent salary increases in a zero-inflation world,” but state workers took an 18-month wage freeze and 10 furlough days, and deferred a raise for 18 months. The 7 percent pay hike was over 21⁄2 years.

FACT: The Contract was Renegotiated in 2009 and Set up the Unions to Receive a Seven Percent Pay Increase in One Year. “The agreement between Corzine and the unions called for 10 unpaid furlough days while deferring a wage increase in exchange for a no-layoff pledge. It means two 3.5 percent wage increases are scheduled to take effect in the upcoming budget year, one in July and one in January. Layoffs or furloughs before January would trigger the January raise right away.” (Claire Heininger, “N.J. Gov. Chris Christie says he’s stuck with bill for state worker 7 percent pay hike,” Star Ledger, 3/9/2010)

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