Chris Christie focus of weekend Truth-O-Meter rulings

Gov. Chris Christie’s plans for a tax cut and his endorsement of Mitt Romney were the focus of weekend rulings on the Truth-O-Meter.

In case you missed it, the Truth-O-Meter handed down two rulings of False – one Sunday to Sen. Barbara Buono, a Middlesex County Democrat, and the other on Monday, to Christie.

Buono claim

Buono, a possible gubernatorial candidate in 2013, chided Christie in an Aug. 27 column published in Politico for revenue projections he made to prove the state can afford a tax cut. Buono wrote that Christie toured the state during the summer to demand that the Democratic Legislature approve an immediate tax cut that would favor the rich, regardless of whether New Jersey can afford it.

But Buono failed to note that Christie backed away from his initial proposal to cut income taxes 10 percent across the board over three years and now supports a Senate Democratic plan to give homeowners an income tax credit based on their property bills. Millionaires would have benefited under Christie’s original proposal, but they will not qualify for a tax cut under the Senate Democrats’ plan.

Christie claim

Christie said during an interview last Tuesday on “CBS This Morning” that he was the first governor to endorse Romney, who accepted the Republican nomination to run for president. Christie endorsed Romney on Oct. 11, 2011 but he wasn’t the first governor to announce his support. Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman endorsed Romney on June 10, 2011 and Idaho Gov. Butch Otter made his endorsement 10 days later.

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Campaign and convention claims

Election season is heating up and we want to know if you have heard or read any political claims that make you wonder if they are accurate. Send the claim in an e-mail to politifactnj@starledger.com and we may test it on the Truth-O-Meter.

PolitiFact New Jersey will be checking Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s speech today at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., and live tweeting. You can follow us @PolitiFactNJ or visit us on Facebook.