Flip-O-Meter, Truth-O-Meter rule on Christie, Booker statements

Statements from two of New Jersey’s highest -profile politicians went up against the Flip-O-Meter and the Truth-O-Meter this weekend and didn’t do too well.

In case you missed it, the Flip-O-Meter handed Gov. Chris Christie a Half Flip on Sunday and the Truth-O-Meter gave Newark Mayor Cory Booker a False on Monday.

The Flip-O-Meter rates politicians’ consistency on particular topics from No Flip to Full Flop. The meter is not intended to pass judgment on their decisions to change their minds. It gauges whether they did.

Christie flip

In January 2011, the governor announced plans for the state to being relying less on bonding to finance transportation projects and to increase pay-as-you-go spending. As part of that goal, the state would bond approximately $986 million and put up $260 million in cash for projects in 2013. But after a revenue shortfall for the budget was announced Wednesday at an Assembly Budget Committee hearing, Christie’s camp said the state would use the $260 million in cash along with other cost-saving measures to close the gap. That means the total transportation plan would be bonded. Since the governor’s announcement is inconsistent with past statements, he received a Half Flip on the Flip-O-Meter.

Booker claim

During a recent appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Booker said President Barack Obama needs to remind Americans of his accomplishments, such as overseeing the lowest level of discretionary spending in decades. But Booker was wrong, PolitiFact New Jersey found. The nation’s level of such spending is the highest it’s been in about 20 years, largely due to defense spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, more commonly known as the stimulus. Obama approved the stimulus bill in February 2009.

Discretionary spending is controlled by lawmakers through annual appropriation acts.

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