Columnist George Will spells out the autocratic directness needed for budget reform in many of the states in the Union. He dresses up New Jersey Chris Christie's prowess as follows:
"He relishes being America’s Caesar — its most powerful governor. He wields a line-item veto, he can revise spending numbers but only down (he blocked $1.3 billion in spending this year) and he can exercise a “conditional veto,” rewriting legislation and sending it back to the Legislature for approval. The governor and the lieutenant governor, who run in tandem, are the only state officials elected statewide. The governor appoints the attorney general, treasurer, comptroller, all judges and all county prosecutors."
The gubernatorial capacity to cut spending unilaterally may offend many in the state houses and in the Beltway, but only a chief executive committed to long-term welfare of the state, without having to resort to empty rhetoric and chronic hand-wringing with party hacks playing to the public union base, can do this. Unpopular moves in the short-run ensure that there will be a state in the long-run for the inhabits of the United States to rely on when seeking protection of their liberties and security for their borders.