On a snow filled day that blanketed most of the Garden State, Governor Chris Christie and Lieutenant Kim Guadagno were sworn in for a second term at the War Memorial in Trenton. NJPSA President John HaHola was on hand for the ceremony.
Photo courtesy of State of New Jersey
The festivities, which included much of the Christie children as well as Assembly and Senate leadership, culminated in the Governor’s Second Inaugural address which focused on the need for bipartisanship as well as limiting government’s role in people’s lives.
The 20-minute address highlighted one educational issue – the achievement gap, a frequent discussion point of the Administration during the Governor’s first term.
The Address paled in comparison to last week’s State of the State speech, in which he called for a longer school day and a longer school year, a constitutional amendment to end bail for violent offenders, and a call for new public employee concessions to reduce the burgeoning pension payments that are eating up the state budget.
The address also did not focus on any of the current allegations facing the Administration around closure of the George Washington Bridge or potential exertion of political pressure in North Jersey.
The Governor started the day with a prayer service in Newark, returning to Trenton for the oath of office. Snow canceled the planned inauguration party at Ellis Island.
Governor Chris Christie's Second Inaugural Address As Delivered