Breath of Fresh Air in N.J.: GOP Governor Chris Christie Fires Up the Cost-Cutting Chainsaw

Did you know?

• New Jersey spends $11 billion more annually than it takes in -- the largest percentage deficit in the U.S.

• New Jersey's total debt has tripled since 2002, skyrocketing from $17 billion to $51 billion. Each family of four living in New Jersey is therefore on the hook for more than $16,000.

• And in the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, New Jersey's public sector added 11,300 jobs in 2009 while private enterprise hemorrhaged 121,000 jobs.

Sanity: Governor Chris Christie is amputating large portions of the budget. Because it's the only way.

• His proposed budget would slash subsidies to schools by $800 million and to cities and towns by $450 million.

• It would reduce state spending by nearly 10%.

• It would permanently cut more than 1,200 state employees.

• It would suspend payments of billions on the insanely rich public sector pension plans that can't possibly be sustained.

The only question: can we clone Chris Christie, say, 534 times for Washington?