TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - The Latest on Gov. Chris Christie’s state of the state address (all times local):
4:25 p.m.
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Senate President Steve Sweeney say they will consider Republican Gov. Chris Christie’s proposals to combat drug addiction.
But the Democratic leaders stopped short of issuing the governor a blank check. Christie outlined his plans Tuesday in his seventh state of the state address.
Prieto says the drug epidemic is an important issue but not the only one facing the state. Sweeney cited school funding.
Christie promised to change regulations to limit the number of days opioid painkillers could be prescribed, cutting it from 30 to five. He also called for legislation mandating that insurance companies cover drug treatment for six months, among other proposals.
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3:30 p.m.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has told lawmakers that his mission in his final year in office is saving lives by tackling the state’s opioid drug epidemic.
Christie devoted the majority of his state of the state address Tuesday to the topic.
He promised a limit to the supply of opioid drugs doctors could prescribe and requested lawmakers pass a measure to require insurers to pay for at least six months of drug treatment.
He also will change rules to allow 18- and 19-year-olds to be considered children to cut down on waiting lists for treatment beds.
State data shows nearly 1,600 people in New Jersey died from drug overdoses in 2015, an increase of about 20 percent over 2014.
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3 p.m.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has unveiled a new phone and online help line for residents seeking help with drug treatment.
Christie is using the majority of his state of the state address to talk about what he’s done and plans to do to help the state’s opioid drug crisis.
He announced the launch of ReachNJ.gov or a phone help line at 1-844-Reach-NJ for people seeking help, including finding treatment centers.
Data from the state medical examiner’s office shows that nearly 1,600 people died from drug overdoses in 2015. Most of those deaths were from opioids, including heroin and fentanyl.
Christie also says he’s changing a regulation that doesn’t allow 18- and 19-year-olds to be treated as children for drug treatment purposes.
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2:40 p.m.
Gov. Chris Christie is devoting most of his annual state of the state address to discuss New Jersey’s opioid drug crisis.
Christie told the story of a state worker who attended a candlelight vigil last month to mark her son’s 10 and a half months of sobriety.
Christie says that two days later, the 23-year-old man was found dead of an overdose in mom Pam Garozzo’s car.
Garozzo received a standing ovation during the address. Christie called the family “the face of the epidemic of addiction that is ravages the state and our people.”
Christie also took a shot at Democratic leaders who have been pushing for legalizing marijuana.
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2:30 p.m.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was forced to pause his state of the state address to lawmakers after a pastor had an apparent health problem.
Christie asked those in attendance to pause for a brief prayer after Pastor Joe Carter from Newark’s New Hope Baptist Church had to be taken out of the chamber Tuesday.
Christie’s wife, Mary Pat, assisted with getting Carter help.
Christie is laying out his accomplishments from the last year and goals for his final year in office.
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2 p.m.
Republican Gov. Chris Christie says his mission for his final year in office is saving lives by tackling New Jersey’s opioid drug epidemic.
Christie released excerpts from his state of the state address he is set to deliver to lawmakers Tuesday afternoon.
He will tell them that he won’t “have the blood of addicted New Jerseyans on my hands by waiting to act.”
Data from the state medical examiner’s office shows that nearly 1,600 people died from drug overdoses in 2015. Most of those deaths were from opioids, including heroin and fentanyl.
Christie has focused throughout his two terms on drug policy, expanding drug courts and signing measures including expansion in use of the overdose-prevention drug naloxone and a prescription monitoring program.
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1 a.m.
Republican Gov. Chris Christie will address lawmakers about the state of New Jersey as he enters his final year in office.
Christie’s seventh annual state of the state address to New Jersey and its Democrat-controlled Legislature is set for Tuesday afternoon. The speech comes as it is becoming increasingly clear that he won’t be leaving New Jersey for a role in the Republican administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Christie has said he always planned to serve out his full term, which ends in 2018.
The speech also comes as the race to succeed Christie has gotten under way and as Christie’s job approval ratings have hit record lows.
Christie has said he has more room to maneuver politically because he’s term-limited and could lay out some initiatives in the address.
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