Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Cowboy Christie vs. Boy Scout McDonnell


To my surprise I watched New Jersey Governor Chris Christie jump up and down in Jerry Jones private box during last weekend's Dallas Cowboys playoff game with the Detroit Lions.  I thought what is Christie doing there?  Business Insider reported:

"Governor Christie attended the game last night as a guest of Jerry Jones, who provided both the ticket and transportation at no expense to New Jersey taxpayers," Roberts said.

Flying Gov. Christie and his family via private plane to Dallas and the seats within the owners' luxury box on the 50 yard line may have cost Jones' tens of thousands of dollars.

Jones is a major investor in a company that secured a contract to operate an observatory at the new One World Trade Center. The lofty business deal with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, an agency administered by the two neighboring states, is expected to produce approximately $875 million in revenue over the next 15 years. 
I pondered the difference between Christie and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, just sentenced to two years prison (with two more years of probation) for corruption, accepting "gifts from friends" like the New Jersey governor.  Business Insider links to a New Jersey Executive Order (from the Governor)giving the impression that it states:

The governor "may accept gifts, favors, services, gratuities, meals, lodging or travel expenses from relatives or personal friends that are paid for with personal funds."

I found no such language in the executive order.  However, the order establishes an Advisory Panel to assist the Governor with ethical decisions.  Did Governor Christie or his staff submit the Cowboys junket for review?  If so, what was their decision?