PA needs a Chris Christie for governor

The Philadelphia Inquirer recaps the first 100 days of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's administration. The newspaper says supporters and foes alike give Christie high marks for helping turn around New Jersey after the disastrous four years of Democrat Jon Corzine.

Pennsylvania needs a Christie in the governor's mansion to straighten out the mess Democrat Ed Rendell has made over the past eight years. Forget about the four Democratic candidates. Three of them are Rendell clones and the fourth, moderate Jack Wagner, doesn't have a chance of winning his party's nomination because liberals control the primary selection process.

That leaves the Republican contest between Tom Corbett and Sam Rohrer.

Can Corbett or Rohrer match Christie's ability to work with the legislature to push sweeping reform measures and clean up the culture of corruption left by their predecessor?

From the story by Inquirer staffer Adrienne Lu:

At its heart, Gov. Christie's guiding philosophy boils down to simple supply-side economics: reduce taxes and cut red tape to create more jobs and wealth.

The Republican governor has spent his first 100 days in office doggedly hewing to that principle, come what may.

Since his inauguration on Jan. 19, Christie has brawled with one of the state's most powerful unions, temporarily suspended property-tax rebates, proposed a $29.3 billion budget while facing a projected shortfall of about $10.7 billion, chopped state aid to schools and municipalities by more than $1.2 billion, and worked with the Legislature to pass changes to public employees pension and benefits.

How Christie's approach will play out over the rest of his time as governor and whether it will be good for the state remains to be seen. But political observers and lawmakers of both parties say there is no question the former U.S. attorney has succeeded in setting the agenda in Trenton.

"I think it's been a staggering 100 days where the governor has begun a transformation of the public culture of the state," said Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R., Monmouth), a friend of Christie's.

Conservatives around the country are paying close attention. Washington Post columnist George F. Will recently named Christie "the nation's most interesting governor." Rush Limbaugh declared he loved him. Opinion writers from the Wall Street Journal, the Weekly Standard, and the National Review have chimed in with praise.

Read the Inquirer's story on Christie at the newspaper's Web site.