Gov. Chris Christie: Atlantic City is on its own until at least 7AM tomorrow

[happyslug]

50. I suspect it has less to do with race, then money.

Christie does NOT want to have to ask the New Jersey Legislature to increase taxes for anything. This debacle is so bad it requires a massive response, and such a response is expensive and will blow holes into any budget I.e. force New Jersey to increase taxes). Thus Christie is waiting for Obama to assume that this disaster requires a federal response and thus the federal government will pay the bills.

Side note, we in Pennsylvania always joke about the temporary tax imposes on Alcohol after the St Patrick's day Flood of 1936. It was passed to help pay for the cost incurred by that Flood, it was, and still called a Temporary Tax, it is still on the books in 2012 with no plans to repeal it. The Tax is the chief reason Alcohol is more expensive in Pennsylvania that any other state (and if Pennsylvania ever does sell off its State owned Liquor stores, Pennsylvania would retain its name for high price for alcohol, which is due to the high tax more then any other single reason).

Just pointing out the issue is Christie does NOT want to have to ask for more taxes, if he can hold off till Obama decides to do something, all the costs will be incurred by the Federal Government. If Christie moved today, then the State will have to pay the bills and the Federal Government will NOT reimburse the State. Thus the state calling out the National Guard can lead to a tax increase, something Christie does NOT want to have to ask for. Thus Christie rather do nothing then have to ask for a tax increase.