Standing outside Gov. Chris Christie's town hall meeting in Somerset on Tuesday, Tax Day, critics bashed the governor for repeatedly using taxpayer dollars "to further his own political career."

New Jersey Citizen Action calls on Governor Christie to stop wasting taxpayer money
New Jersey Citizen Action calls on Governor Christie to stop wasting taxpayer money. (Townsquare Media NJ)
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New Jersey Citizen Action, equipped with a "Gov. Tax Waster" cutout of Christie, insisted New Jerseyans' hard-earned money should be used for programs and services that can help every resident of the state, and not just one.

The internal investigation into Bridgegate was first on the list of "tax-wasting hits." An exact tab has not yet been determined for the internal probe, which eventually cleared Christie of any wrongdoing in the September lane closures at the George Washington Bridge.

The group also cited a special U.S. Senate election in October, which cost the state $12 million -- "guaranteeing Governor Christie top billing" on the November ballot that would take place just three weeks later.

The state's "Stronger Than the Storm" ad campaign was another point of contention for the group, as well as Democratic members of the state legislature. New Jersey Citizen Action noted Christie and his family appeared in the post-Sandy commercials "during an election year."

"Christie can't have it both ways, claiming to protect New Jersey's taxpayers while at the same time wasting their money on his personal ambitions," said Dena Mottola Jaborska, director of advocacy and organizing for the group.

Mottola Jaborska insisted Christie's town halls are another example of wasted taxpayer dollars.

The governor has held 119 town hall events since his first win at the polls.

"We don't know what the price tag is. We'd like to know," said Mottola Jaborska, noting the meetings are held at inconvenient times for "regular working people."

A spokesman for Christie insisted the costs of a town hall are "fairly modest" and "not significantly different from any other routine public event for the governor."

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