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Chris Christie's conservative problem

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    New Jersey's Republican governor backs ObamaCare's Medicaid expansion

  • Duration 5:57
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Welcome to The Journal Editorial Report I'm -- -- new Jersey's.

Chris Christie this week became the eighth Republican governor to support the expansion of his State's Medicaid program under president Obama's Affordable Care Act.

That decision.

Won't do much to mend fences with conservatives many of whom are still smarting.

From the governor's pre election embrace of the president in the wake of hurricane sandy and his subsequent criticism.

Of GOP leaders for their delay in bringing up pork field storm relief -- to the house floor.

Christie's name has been notably left off the invitation list that next month's conservative political action com.

Despite the governor 74%.

Approval rating in his very democratic.

State joining the panel this week.

Wall Street -- columnist and deputy editor Dan had anger.

Political diary editor Jason Riley and assistant editorial page editor James Freeman so.

Jason just a couple years ago Chris Christie was Republican hero going to be widely mentioned as a possible presidential nominee in the last.

Election so what's the issue here is that Christie has changed or.

Conservatives.

The problem well Christie is running for reelection -- -- very blue state Obama carried New Jersey by.

At least seventeen points hit confuse things we know that -- -- margin at 2008 I mean so you have a Republican.

Running in a very blue state and doing what he needs to do to get election to get elected he cannot be Rick Perry.

In New Jersey and and so I think that's what you're seeing here com.

Now you know I'm not with -- a lot of positions gun control and -- global warming.

And and issues like that but.

Again you know this is similar to what -- not brown was doing guys such -- you gotta have weathered got -- -- -- -- to -- -- So the snub it's -- -- now does that reflect Christie's wrecked.

-- -- New Jersey are you you well it certainly is recent record and proceeds back music conservative gathering -- not an official Republican Party event if they want to invite people that they think are gonna work.

Carrying conservative message you are consistent with that they shouldn't but it bears no obligation invite invite people who were more on the senator booming laughter I think it's it's the recent trend where what what what would you single out to me -- of them the most disturbing thing about that the recent -- history is the Medicaid expansion because.

He made.

Reform of entitlements.

Really the centerpiece of his arguments in the state and then talked about it nationwide and really helped.

Building reform case and this this is not a massive expansion but it is an expansion and that's what.

I think you have to be disappointed if you're federal taxpayer and New Jersey taxpayer that he's now.

Expand into new stadium look it's free money from the -- at least for a -- they're gonna pay a 100% of this we need the money what do you what he gonna do when eight other governors there are doing it -- -- -- all -- federal taxpayers so this is money going out the door and and despite what he said this -- it does not if he does not take that money doesn't automatically go to new -- Connecticut that's right this is an entitlement program.

On the state level what he's doing -- while it.

Appears to be a good deal and he can explain that is long term it is building liabilities for the state and the history of entitlements is they get more expensive.

Mike Pence the Indiana governor calls -- -- -- Medicaid the classic case of the gift of the baby elephant and say here -- how cute.

-- when he grows up and -- to be an adult you're paying for the hey.

Yeah it's great to to bring up Mike Pence and the governor of Indiana recently elected governor of Indiana the reason we talk about Chris Christie is because two years ago.

He was talked about in the context of becoming a potential presidential candidate.

At that time Chris Christie was a strong figure in a really pretty weak Republican field the people who were up there debating in the primaries.

Next time around Chris Christie is going to be up against a very strong line up a lot of them will be -- -- back.

Governor Scott Walker of Milwaukee governor Jeb what Wisconsin governor Jeb former governor Jeb Bush of Florida Bobby Jindal of Louisiana of course Marco Rubio.

This is going to be a different group of people that Chris Christie will be competing against and he'll be competing.

As a governor from the liberal north east I think it's an uphill battle.

It is I still think that right now Republican should be taking a big tent.

Approach this as one of the most popular governors in the country Democrat or Republican.

He's forcing some people take another look at the Republican Party independents in particular.

This is not the time to be putting in place litmus tests about you know who the viable presidential material -- three ways.

You know we are years away from Ottawa you know what Jason he has never come to the -- -- conference in Washington he's been invited before he has never shown up so there's nothing new about what's going on this year other than they disinvited him.

But that -- the Christie record is mixed I mean he's got nine point 6% unemployment in the states one of the worst records in in in in the country did impose a tax cap.

No question about that on property taxes and he hasn't endorsed a tax -- -- Better than Bob McDonnell the Virginia Republican governor -- was much loved by conservative just did bat.

So I guess the question will be how much has the Christie record -- to be able to sell himself.

James two Republican primary voters in 2016.

That would you've got some nice reforms 2010 you mention the property tax cap 2011 -- got a good pension reform didn't get rid of the unfunded liabilities on pension and health care but made a big dent in them.

I think the problem he's gonna face going forward is it is a slow growth high unemployment.

Economy in New Jersey.

He can't fix it after about redistricting there it's basically did democratic bloc on the legislature right I'm worried that the Christie reform era may be may be over there let's hope not but he's gonna have a tough time getting any more reform through that legislature all right when we come back.

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