They say it pays to have friends in high places. And our governor certainly has been reaping the rewards of having well-placed pals.

Few missed the sight of Chris Christie cavorting with Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, after Jones flew Christie and his family to a playoff game in a private jet. The governor mingled with players on the sideline and enjoyed all the amenities of Jones' luxury box.

As The Star-Ledger editorial board pointed out, that splurge would cost $25,000 to $30,000 per person as part of a vacation package -- meaning the gift to the Christies was worth at least $125,000.

This week, the New York Times reported on the tally for a trip the Christie clan took to Jordan in 2012. The visit followed a trip to Israel on a plane lent by Sheldon G. Adelson, the billionaire casino owner and supporter of Israel.

"King Abdullah invited the governor and his family to Jordan as his personal guest so the two families could spend time together," according to a spokeswoman for the governor.

Time is money, it's also said, and the weekend bill for a luxury hotel stay added up to $30,000.

Christie has been able to accept these generous gifts because they come from "friends" -- as defined by a porous executive order issued during the McGreevey administration.

Christie has been "friends" with the king of Jordan since they met a dinner hosted by Michael Bloomberg. In addition to the king, Jerry Jones and legions of Dallas fans, Christie could have millions of Facebook friends, LinkedIn friends -- buddies who could presumably shower him with gifts that need never be reported if the Governor's Office Code of Conduct is stretched to its legal limits.

And that's what this governor has done.

As the normally brash and confrontational Christie shied away from answering questions in London this week about all the friendly generosity, he seemed abashed, as though he were caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

It's obvious the elastic code that's allowed this largesse needs immediate and thorough revision.

Lawmakers should press for those changes quickly and vigorously. Gifts to the governor should be strictly limited and publicly reported. A cap should be set on the value of those gifts, and they should be reported.

The next governor may have spartan tendencies; perhaps he or she will enjoy palling around with the rich and famous as much as Christie does.

But New Jersey needs ironclad standards to prevent the sort of excess that's become far too common in this administration.

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