Michael Symons

@MichaelSymons_

TRENTON Gov. Chris Christie vetoed 65 bills approved earlier this month by the lame-duck Legislature, including plans to boost the smoking age to 21, promote the development of personalized “smart guns” and create a 1 percent county tax on hotels.

He even deep-sixed a bill mandating recess for school kids.

Christie also signed 93 bills into law Tuesday, including bills allowing scientists to create oyster reefs in places like Raritan Bay; the state to adopt rules requiring public access to the waterfront and shoreline; people to offer snow-shoveling services without registering with a town; and chemotherapy patients to keep using driver’s license photos that are due to expire.

But the governor rejected many of the higher-profile bills the Legislature acted on in the waning days before its two-year session expired a week ago. And because a new Legislature has since taken over, there’s no opportunity for lawmakers to try to defeat those vetoes, even if it had the votes. The Legislature has never succeeded in overriding a Christie veto, even when a bill has passed by a wide margin and with bipartisan support.

What do you think about the governor's bill signings and vetoes. Let us know in the comments here or keep the conversation going on Facebook. Like the Asbury Park Press' Facebook page while you're visiting.

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Christie, who has been stung on the presidential campaign trail for flip-flopping on gun-control measures, was unambiguous in his opposition to anything even remotely considered gun control.

He vetoed two gun-related bills, including one that would require firearm retailers to sell personalized handguns, once they’re ready for market. Current state law requires gun retailers to sell only “smart guns,” which can include things such as fingerprint or radio transmitter technology, when they’re viable.

The measured he opposed would have required retailers to sell the new technology alongside traditional guns, in an effort to break down a barrier that may have had the unintended consequence of slowing progress on the technology.

“This is, quite simply, an attempt to protect children from gun violence, especially accidental shootings, but the governor wasn’t even interested enough to act,” said Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, D-Bergen.

Scott Bach, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, applauded Christie's veto.

"We welcome Gov. Christie's veto of this transparent ploy to force market acceptance of this dangerous and unproven technology, to facilitate a nationwide ban on conventional firearms similar to New Jersey's 2002 ban," Bach said. "If smart guns are such a great idea, why haven't the sponsors adopted smart guns exclusively for their own security details, instead of refusing to live under the same restrictions they have forced on everyone else?"

Christie also vetoed a bill that would have banned people from possessing guns if they had been convicted of carjacking, gang criminality, racketeering and terroristic threats. The state already bans people who’ve been convicted of a list of more than 16 offenses from buying or owning a gun.

That bill had been passed 37-0 by the Senate and 68-0, with eight voting to abstain, in the Assembly.

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“His failure to act on a no-brainer bill supported by Democrats and Republicans alike calls into question his ability to lead and even think clearly,” said Assemblyman Tim Eustace, D-Bergen. “... Gun rights groups don’t even support giving such people guns. The governor’s failure is scary and inexplicable.”

Christie is seeking the Republican nomination for president, in a contest where new gun laws, such as universe background checks, is considered verboten.

Legislation that would have raised the minimum age for buying cigarettes and electronic smoking devices from 19 to 21 had been passed 22-10 by the Senate in June 2014, then was passed 48-21 by the Assembly last week. Hawaii and more than 100 cities have set the smoking age at 21.

“Gov. Christie has spoken eloquently about addiction and his mother’s battle with lung cancer following decades of cigarette smoking that started in her teens. Unfortunately, when given the opportunity to prevent future such tragedies, he failed to do so,” said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Sen. Richard Codey, D-Essex, a former governor, said he will pursue the smoking legislation again in the new session.

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Among the other bills Christie vetoed are measures that would have:

Allocated $10 million to the fund that’s supposed to pay for lead poisoning prevention programs.

Created a formula through which nonprofit hospitals would make payments to host municipalities.

Put in place a pilot program in Ocean County for electronic monitoring of domestic violence offenders.

Banned hunters of threatened African species, like lions, from bringing animal parts through New Jersey ports.

Required paint producers to create a statewide paint recycling program, funded through a new tax.

Required public schools to provide 20 minutes of recess a day for students in grades K-to-5.

Directed local police departments to establish minority recruitment programs.

Ended restrictions on convicted drug offenders receiving welfare benefits.

Extended season retail alcohol licenses by two months, starting them in March instead of May.

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Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said much of that legislation could begin anew in the new session but that so long as Christie remains governor, their fate probably wouldn't change.

“I would think that a lot of them would get reintroduced. The problem is if he’s not going to sign them. But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do them because there will be another governor," Sweeney said.

"I’ve told my members this for the last several years: Don’t just pass things when you’re putting things up because he’s the governor because if we’re going to be, God willing, on our side if a Democrat wins, the bills that we’ve been passing, people are going to expect us to pass when it’s a Democratic governor," Sweeney said. "So don’t put something up that we don’t intend to do when there’s a Democratic governor.”

Michael Symons: (609) 984-4336; msymons@gannettnj.com