Christie To Take Oath Of Office Amid Multiple Controversies

Gov. Chris Christie is scheduled to take the oath of office to begin his second term today in Trenton while his administration is under fire for multiple controversies. 

Christie began the day at a morning church service in Newark, to be followed by a speech scheduled for noon Tuesday from the War Memorial after his swearing-in. 

A planned party tonight on Ellis Island has been canceled while the state prepares for a winter storm expected to dump as much as a foot of snow in some parts of the state. 

Christie's office said all the catered food ordered for the event will be donated to local food pantries in the Jersey City area.

"While we regret to cancel this special evening for our guests, their safety is our first priority and takes total precedence in our planning," a release from the Christie camp said. "We thank all of our supporters for their generosity and urge New Jerseyans to stay safe in today's conditions and heed the guidance of emergency management officials."

Christie spent the first part of his last public speech – the State of the State address -- apologizing for the mistakes of some of his inner circle over the lane closures of the ongoing George Washington bridge controversy. Early prepared remarks released to the press did not indicate whether the Republican governor would address the latest controversy involving the Hoboken mayor.

Christie is scheduled to talk about limited government, shared sacrifice and bi-partisanship in his address today, according to the excerpts released by his office. 

“We should make sure that government pursues policies that believe in the effort, talent and optimism of New Jerseyans, not in the power of almighty government to fix any problem, real or imagined."

Here’s more from the prepared remarks:

"One of the lessons that I have learned most acutely over the last four years is that New Jersey can really be one state. This election has taught us that the ways we divide each other - by race, by class, by ethnicity, by wealth, by political party is neither permanent nor necessary. Our dreams are the same: a good job, a great education for our children, safe streets in our neighborhood and core values which give our lives real meaning. Those dreams are not unique to any one group in our state. 

“And, while government has a role in ensuring the opportunity to accomplish these dreams, we have now learned that we have an even bigger role to play as individual citizens. We have to be willing to play outside the red and blue boxes the media and pundits put us in; we have to be willing to reach out to others who look or speak differently than us; we have to be willing to personally reach out a helping hand to a neighbor suffering from drug addiction, depression or the dignity stripping loss of a job. New Jersey came together as one community when it mattered most and now we must stay together – people of every background and belief - the government and our people - to help our fellow citizens reach their dreams.”