Chris Christie Talks About 'The Jersey Comeback' in 'State of the State' Address

The Wall Street Journal reports:

“'Leadership is not about fear. Leadership is about commitment. Leadership is about telling the truth and leadership is about getting things done,' he states in the video.

Christie’s team has not released any indication of what the governor will cover in his speech Tuesday, but the video does hint at something that Christie has said he has wanted to do since his election: cutting taxes.

'If we did the really tough things we need to do we are going to be able to start cutting taxes,' he says in the video, near the end."

PolitiFact NJ has already taken on the video, rating it "half true:"

"Christie has balanced two budgets, but he is required to do so under the state constitution. It’s true that the rates for the state’s three major taxes have not changed under Christie, but the governor has cut funding for some tax credits.

The jobs-related claims in the video are on target. The number of state workers has declined during Christie’s tenure, and number of private-sector jobs has grown by about 60,000. But the governor is giving himself too much credit for that job growth.

Overall, the three claims don’t give a completely accurate picture of Christie’s New Jersey. We rate the statement Half True."

After much anticipation, Gov. Christie addressed state legislators in Trenton, making the case for "The Jersey Comeback" and laying out his plans for things to come.

NJ.com video of the Governor's opening statements:

The biggest news from Gov. Christie's third State of the State address was his call to reduce state income tax rates by 10 percent across the board, phased in over three years, and to restore the earned-income tax credit for the state's poorest citizens. NJ.com reports:

"'Understand what this means,' Christie said in his State of the State message, the second one he has delivered since becoming governor in January 2010,. 'Every New Jerseyan will get a cut in taxes. The working poor. The struggling middle class. The new college graduates getting their first job. The senior citizens who have already retired. The single mom. The job creators. The parents trying to afford to send their son or daughter to college.

As he put it: 'Everyone made the sacrifice. Everyone will share in the benefit.'"

Looking back on his first two years in office, the governor said New Jersey's economy has turned a corner from the "dark days of 2010."

Gov. Christie called for large scale education reform during the address, criticizing tenure and the practice of letting go not the least effective teachers but the youngest. "Time to end the system of last-in, first-out," said Gov. Christie.

Full text of Gov. Christie's address on NorthJersey.com.