Mr. Christie, a Republican presidential candidate, also vetoed a bill passed by the state’s Democrat-controlled Legislature that would have capped the sales tax collected on luxury boats at $20,000. But some activists had also privately anxious that Christie’s presidential ambitions would sink any bill that was LGBT-related as the governor attempts to woo conservative primary voters to his side.
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The vetoes, announced yesterday afternoon, were not unexpected, since Christie and legislative leaders have been feuding for more than a year over what to do about the pension system and its $40 billion unfunded liability.
The Birth Certificate Modernization Bill would allow state agencies to change a transgender person’s birth certificate, as long as the individual provided proof of undergoing treatment for a gender transition from a medical professional.
“Birth certificates unlock access to many of our nation and state’s critical and protected benefits such as passports, driver’s licenses, and social services, as well as other important security-dependent allowances”, Christie said.
“The court finds the general interest of the public to have a breakdown pales in comparison”, Jacobson told New Jersey Watchdog and others during a hearing in Mercer County Superior Court. “I remain committed to the principle that efforts to significantly alter State law concerning the issuance of vital records that have the potential to create legal uncertainties should be closely scrutinized and sparingly approved”, he wrote in a statement explaining the veto.
“Simply put, every individual does not necessarily undergo sex reassignment surgery when transitioning genders”, Christie said.
“Gov. Christie owes New Jersey’s taxpayers an explanation for why he refuses to take even the smallest steps to stabilize the system and lower the long-term cost of fixing the problem the state has created for itself”, said Wendell Steinhauer, president of the New Jersey Education Association.
The veto marks the second time Christie has vetoed the legislation. “Doing so would have allowed for the earning of investment returns on the appropriated amount, but with this veto by Gov. Christie, all we have is yet another missed opportunity”, he added.
“And Gov. Christie has – for a second time – vetoed legislation denying that for transgender New Jerseyans”. Under previous law, first-time offenders had a presumption of non-imprisonment.
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The bills were among more than 100 pieces of legislation that have lingered on Mr. Christie’s desk since the Legislature wrapped up its last big round of lawmaking in June. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) over government collection of phone records under the Patriot Act as well as an exchange with Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee over entitlement reform.
