Chris Christie On CNBC This Morning

Newly-elected NJ Republican governor Chris Christie gave his first interview this morning. He chose as his venue CNBC, indicating a serious business and investment angle to his message.

What ensued was high comedy, if you were watching and listening closely.

First, the good news. Christie was absolutely adamant that he will NOT raise taxes. Period. To paraphrase his repeated reply to questions on the subject,

'Raising taxes is the easy part. That's already been done. We can't do that anymore. Our state's tax rates are too high already.'

On a program, and network, which is in passionate, big sloppy-kisses love with deposed NJ Democratic governor Jon Corzine, Christie wasted no time informing viewers, and his inquisitors, of some of the tricks Corzine & Co. performed, to the detriment of NJ taxpayers.

For example, Corzine's people wired out funds to municipalities on the morning of Christie's inauguration, so concerned were they about spending money in a way that could not be revoked or frozen by the new governor.

Christie detailed Corzine's tax and spending increases. He took full advantage of being the marquee guest at that time slot and savaged Corzine's gubernatorial record.

What was comedic, however, was the constant- and I mean constant- insistence of the CNBC co-anchors that Christie would just have to raise taxes, wouldn't he?

The Hispanic male co-anchor must have asked Christie at least four times if he would raise taxes. Wouldn't raising them 'just a little' help close the budget gap?

Becky Quick, also a liberal, chimed in two or three times, too, with the same question.

Only fiscal and political conservative Melissa Lee, dragged onto the set for this segment, focused on asking Christie how he planned to grow NJ's economy out of its current mess?

At one point, though, Christie drew himself up and repeated his campaign promises of smaller government, lower spending and taxes. He said that everyone voting in the election knew what he promised, and it shouldn't surprise them that he intends to do just those things.

In reply to the constant barrage of questions and diatribes that he simply must raise taxes in NJ to balance the budget, Christie gave a repetitive tutorial on how spending had gotten out of control, taxes were raised to attempt to close the gap, and, as a result, wealthy residents had left the state.

At one point, he silenced the co-anchors by citing the statistic that some $70B of wealth had left the state in the past year, seeking lower tax domiciles. That's why, Christie noted, taxes cannot and will not be increased.

He also hammered away on regulation, insisting that some needless rules which make doing business harder or more expensive in NJ, will be dropped.

Another topic on which he held forth- one of my favorites- was the amount and expense of state and local government in New Jersey. Citing the number of municipalities with separate police, fire and other services, and taxing authorities, Christie contends that NJ is perhaps the most over-governed state in the union. He cited one example of a town and its education board both possessing 'public works' departments.

As a current NJ resident, I can attest to the hope Christie gave for the right kind of change. Lower spending. Lower taxes.

Change we NJ voters and taxpayers can believe in.