Vote on bill viewed as Christie attack on newspapers delayed

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Michael Catalini, Associated Press
Updated 7:38 pm, Monday, December 19, 2016


TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — After a furious lobbying effort by the state's newspapers, a measure supported by Republican Gov. Chris Christie to scrap a requirement that local governments publish legal notices in newspapers was delayed until at least after the new year.

Newspapers and other opponents said the measure, which would allow government agencies to publish the notices on their own websites, amounted to Christie targeting the media over their coverage of him as a two-term governor, failed presidential candidate and adviser to Republican President-elect Donald Trump.

Christie argued that the measure had nothing to do with targeting the press and was instead a reform effort to fix a requirement that burdens taxpayers, whose money goes to local governments, which pay newspapers to run notices. A spokesman for Christie said the change "will be a top priority when we return from the holidays."

"The governor has fought this fight for the taxpayers for seven years, and he will continue this fight at the beginning of year eight," Christie spokesman Jeremy Rosen said Monday.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Bill-cast-as-Christie-attack-on-newspapers-set-10805255.php

[George II]

1. "The governor has fought this fight for the taxpayers for seven years"

When is he going to realize it's a losing fight and give up? Where I live the requirement to publish legal notices in newspapers has been in effect for decades. It only costs about $60 to publish a legal notice. If he's been fighting this for 7 years I'm sure it's cost a lot more than what the newspapers charge them.

[tenorly]

2. With Jared Kushner, New Jersey journalists are going to be the least of Crisco's worries.