Chris Christie Just Cost NJ Another $85K, For His Portrait

Former Gov. Chris Christie bragged about being a budget-cutter, but he was never afraid to spend money – especially on himself. And he also was never afraid to have his picture taken – except for that time last summer when...oh, you remember ... he was sunbathing on a closed state beach during a government shutdown.

Even out of office, the spending for Christie continues – though this expense was apparently was enough to actually break a record.

Christie is making taxpayers fork over more money than his three predecessors combined for his official governor portrait, according to a report from The Record. The portrait fee will be the highest price tag yet for New Jersey taxpayers.

The portrait, which will cost $85,000, will hang in the Statehouse and will be painted by a highly regarded Australian artist, Sydney-based Paul Newton, according to The Record. The work was commissioned this past month through Sewell Fine Portraiture, a New York City firm which has helped create pictures of royalty, presidents, military leaders and governors.

Sewell Fine Portraiture was established to "advance the traditions and standards of fine portraiture and sculpture. Its artists consist of a select number of the world’s finest portrait painters and sculptors, each having a distinct style," according to its website.

Democrat Jim Florio's portrait cost $58,000, while the same pictures for Jon Corzine, Richard Codey and Jim McGreevey, all Democrats, cost a combined $74,500, according to The Asbury Park Press and The New York Times.

Christie's expenses were an issue for some time. His presidential ambitions drove his total travel costs to $1.77 million in 2015 and 2016, and his expenses likely grew to a much higher level after he campaigned for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Of the nearly $614,000 spent on travel in 2015 by the State Police Executive Protection Unit, a published report from NJ Spotlight said $545,000 was charged to American Express cards issued to the governor's office. Citing concerns for Christie's safety, the state refused to release the Amex statements that list food, lodging, transportation and incidental expenses for out-of-state trips, according to the report.

In his first five years as governor, Christie spent $360,000 from his state allowance – more than 80 percent of which, or $300,000, was used to buy food, alcohol and desserts, according to a New Jersey Watchdog analysis of records released by the governor's office.

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