Dems Say Gov. Christie Using NJ State Copter For Non-Official Uses

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) - New Jersey governor Chris Christie is taking some heat for what appears to be personal use of a state police helicopter.

On Tuesday, Christie rode in one of two new state police choppers to arrive just in time for his eldest son's high school baseball game, then left in the fifth inning for a meeting with Republican operatives from Iowa that was held in Princeton (see related story).

Watch the video...

Democrats are taking the governor to task for such use of state equipment at a time when he's asking everyone else to sacrifice.

"I think it's just wrong," says Washington Township assemblyman Paul Moriarty, "and I think that he should give us a full accounting of what he's been doing with this 12½-million-dollar taxpayer funded helicopter.  And he should reimburse the state for his use."

The governor's office issued a statement saying that other governors have used state helicopters in the past and "we continue to be judicious in limiting its use."

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060