Today's Chris Christie Lesson in Government

No video today, but a story on how Chris Christie seems to be leading the way in dealing with out-of-control union benefits:

In 2009, the country witnessed Chris Christie, who at the time was relatively unknown outside of New Jersey, defeat Democrat incumbent Jon Corzine for the governorship. Then it watched Christie declare a “state of fiscal emergency.” Then it watched him propose major spending cuts and give the proverbial middle finger to teachers’ unions.

Now, Christie’s playbook has become standard reading for many of the Republican governors that were elected in 2010.

In Wisconsin last week, Gov. Scott Walker upset state public sector unions so much that Democratic lawmakers fled the state to avoid a vote on his budget, and teachers joined in solidarity by effectively going on strike.

In Ohio, Republican Gov. John Kasich vowed to take on public sector unions even before taking office. And now, the state’s legislature is considering a bill that would restrict collective bargaining rights and implement a merit pay system for teachers.

In Tennessee, Gov. Bill Haslam has presented plans to make it harder for public school teachers to achieve tenure. Almost immediately, teachers’ unions pegged the plan as being ‘anti-teacher.”

But the Christie effect isn’t just rippling through states where Republicans made major gains in the 2010 midterm elections.

An unlikely face of union reform and fiscal hawkishness can be found in recently-elected Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York. Cuomo, the son of a Democratic icon, has even vowed to take a hard look at state employee pensions.

The proposed reforms have union members seething in fury, but no state has been immune to budget difficulties. By taking on union contracts as a way to balance the budget, governors like Scott Walker, John Kasich, and Bill Haslam are following in the footsteps of Chris Christie.

I don't think Walker, Kasich or Haslam (or for that matter Cuomo) are simply following Christie. I think they would have governed that way regardless of whether there was a Chris Christie. All are fiscal conservatives who realize their states cannot continue down the path they're on now and remain solvent. Christie will probably get some credit for taking the early arrows in the battle with the teacher's unions, but these guys were strong conservatives before Christie came along.