TRENTON, N.J. _ Chris Christie, with nine months left as New Jersey's governor, says he's leaving the state in finer shape than when he took office in 2010. He even created a Twitter hashtag #BetterThanWeFoundIt to tout his claim.
"Facts are stubborn, stubborn things," the 54-year-old Republican said during his Feb. 28 budget address.
The facts he gives back up his assertions. Private-sector jobs are up, while state government is smaller by more than 11,000 employees. Property-tax growth has slowed. The state has committed to spending billions of dollars on transportation and college improvements.
Yet other data provide a more complete view of the state of Christie's New Jersey. And when those points are included, the picture is less rosy.
