Chris Christie Vetoes 'Jersey Shore' Tax Credits

Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) yanked $420,000 in tax credits away from the MTV reality-show "Jersey Shore" on Monday.

"I have no interest in policing the content of such projects," Christie wrote in a letter to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority informing them of his veto. "However, as chief executive I am duty-bound to ensure that taxpayers are not footing a $420,000 bill for a project which does nothing more than perpetuate misconceptions about the state and its citizens."

The tax credits came from a program aimed at encouraging more TV shows and movies to be filmed in the state as an economic development initiative. The show, which is the most widely watched program in MTV's history, was originally approved for tax credits in 2009.

Local officials in Seaside Heights said there had been a boost in economic activity, but Christie has been a vocal critic of the tax program as a whole and the show in particular, and said he was surprised when he first learned "Jersey Shore" was receiving so much in tax credits.

He said he received calls from a national coalition of Italian-Americans to veto the tax credits.

Christie's decision received the support of state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle Monday.

"I can't believe we are paying for fake tanning for 'Snooki' and 'The Situation', and I am not even sure $420,000 covers that," said State Rep. Declan O'Scanlon (R-Monmouth).

State Sen. Joe Vitale (D-Middlesex) told the New Jersey Star-Ledger that "This is a show that uses bigoted remarks," and said he was glad the governor exercised his veto power.

Read Christie's letter below:

Governor Christie Vetoes EDA Minutes

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[john13]

03:28 PM on 10/14/2011

As an Italian American I salute you Gov.Christie.

[Gadgetman]

03:12 AM on 10/01/2011

Great! They couldn't pay me enough to watch such a low-life show. If there is any example of the decline of our culture, this show is it.

[Super007]

01:31 PM on 09/28/2011

About time. I like Christie for doing this. The show was not only dumb but none of the main characters are even from NJ.

[RedneckLiberal]

08:30 AM on 09/28/2011

"The show, which is the most widely watched program in MTV's history"


Words fail to express how depressing that is.

[hammhome]

01:44 AM on 09/28/2011

Yeah, the trashy show can support itself or cancel. In other comedy, did you see the Irish farmer telling Riannah to coverup, get off his property and get right with God...........

[majbjb]

11:11 PM on 09/27/2011

Now if he would just sue the producers for putting out a lame show, he'd get even more kudo's from rational people!

[rhdsma]

10:00 PM on 09/27/2011

Christie doesn't look healthy.

[nyjjc]

09:47 PM on 09/27/2011

Finally! Ole Sausage Fingers does something I actually agree with!

[peaeye25]

07:37 AM on 09/28/2011

what a cruel thing to say--are you saying sausage fingers because he is an american of italian descent? bigot--you are a bigot--hate monger--why so full of hate?

[nyjjc]

01:33 AM on 09/29/2011

Um, perhaps if I called him a Guido, you'd be right. But as I made no reference to his heritage - fail.

[skatulaki]

09:12 PM on 09/27/2011

I've been to Joisey several times for training schools, fortunately only for a week at a time. I would not move there for love or any amount of money, and I sure as h_ll have no wish to visit.

[holyghostie]

08:32 PM on 09/27/2011

Good now cancel the tax breaks for Jerseylicious and Cake Boss and audit the Adubatos.

[darkwaterz29]

08:13 PM on 09/27/2011

Good for him. You'd have to be some sort of moronic mouthbreather to watch a ridiculous show like that to begin with--much less subsidize it with tax credits/dollars. Keep it up....I'm sure the people of New Jersey are sick of these dumbasses perpetuating ridiculous stereotypes of its citizenry.

[lilcon73]

07:36 PM on 09/27/2011

Good for Christie! "Jersey Shore" is awful, but even more so, we should not be footing the bill for them. There's better ways to make this state film friendly. We really don't need a shallow, childish representation of our beaches. Sure, they are crowded, but our shore towns are nothing like they are portrayed in that nonsense show.

[Dan Crabtree]

07:27 PM on 09/27/2011

Oh no the liberal goons will not like this as most are fans..

[BooTay]

07:28 AM on 09/28/2011

You just can't help projecting, now can you, Bubba? No more Haggard 'Wife Swap' for you!

[grant06]

07:16 PM on 09/27/2011

I'm a bit surprised. Although I've never watched the program, I understand its content tends to be fairly juvenile, but that said, if the program qualifies for a tax discount OFFERED by the state, to cut that tax break in an arbritary manner seems a bit unfair and likely to bring court costs and an award to the program's producers.
They should have discontinued the tax break across the board instead of engaged in selective censorship. New Jersey obviously needs a leader with both halves of his brain functioning.

[revrendsyne]

07:22 PM on 09/27/2011

YA what grant said. grant that porker dosn't have either side to work. He eat it.

[II Quorum II]

12:25 AM on 09/28/2011

Your grammar, spelling, punctuation and thinking in general are flawed. Please study some more prior to posting again. Thanks in advance.

[n590star]

10:03 PM on 09/27/2011

I believe the article said that both sides of the aisle agreed with him. What did you read?

[grant06]

10:51 AM on 09/28/2011

What does that have to do with anything? I said nothing about sides. Literacy problem?

[revrendsyne]

07:05 PM on 09/27/2011

There is joy in Porkville tonight, the king porker has quit eating long enough to speak. " Let it (berp) that the Jer (fart), sey shore (grawl), will (grown) will no longer get any tax (fart) brakes (berp) untill (snort) I GET MORE FOOD. King Porker Chris Christie

[Dean77]

10:57 PM on 09/27/2011

Liberals sometimes like to pose as their Republican stereotypes to make them look bad. But they are pretty easy to spot. Pathetic.

[John Bays]

02:04 AM on 09/28/2011

Are you a member of the Tea Party yet?