Christie renominates thwarted NJ Supreme Court nominee

Gov. Chris Christie’s administration borrowed another $1.4 billion during the state’s last fiscal year, pushing New Jersey’s total debt to a record $43.23 billion, according to new figures from the state Department of Treasury. Christie urged lawmakers to set an example for federal legislators.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a bid by unions representing public employees, including teachers and state troopers, to force the state of New Jersey to pay the full share of its annual public pension contribution.

Christie told reporters Monday he wouldn’t answer any off-topic questions “because I don’t want to”.

“We’re heartened by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision today”, said Christie spokeswoman Joelle Farrell, who said that all parties need to come back to the table and find a solution “that is fair for all taxpayers”.

Attorneys for the unions had argued that Christie and the state Legislature could not skip the higher pension payments – and that the U.S. Supreme Court would be sending a bad signal by letting his pension cuts stand. In exchange, Governor Christie promised to guarantee state payments to their long-underfunded retirement system, hailing it then as a national model of cooperation and reform.

Christie said he expects Bauman to be approved this time.

NJTV News Chief Political Correspondent Michael Aron spoke about Christie’s announcement. President Obama, a Democrat, has said he plans to nominate a replacement for Scalia, but Republicans have balked. He said he has been interviewing candidates, including prospects other than Bauman, and that the appointment has been in the works.

Bauman, 59, is now assigned to the criminal division in Monmouth County.

Bauman would be the first Asian-American on the state Supreme Court if he is confirmed. Christie vetoed a tax increase on millionaires that Democrats proposed to cover the pension shortfall.

It’s likely they would resist Bauman’s nomination because it would lead to a court with four Republicans, two Democrats and an independent. That deal left one vacancy, filled temporarily by Cuff.