Two Democrats who served with former state Sen. Richard Bagger when he chaired the Assembly Appropriations Committee hailed him as a wise choice to co-chair Gov.-elect Chris Christie's transition task force on budget and taxes.
"What an impressive and talented guy," state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen), chair of the senate budget committee, said of the legislator turned top Pfizer executive who Christie today named to the transition post along with venture capitalist Robert Grady.
"When he left it was a great loss to the New Jersey Legislature," Buono added of Bagger. "We're lucky to have him back. It says something about Chris Christie that he wound find someone that both parties hold in very high regard. And he's a nice guy on top of that. A real gentleman."
Former Assemblyman Bill Payne (D-Newark), older brother of U.S. Rep. Donald Payne (D-Newark), also praised Bagger.
Tags: Assembly Appropriations Committee, Assemblyman, Barbara Buono, Bill Payne, Christie, Co Chair, Demeanor, Donald Payne, Legislator, Metuchen, New Jersey Legislature, New Jersey Politics, Nice Guy, Pfizer, Richard Bagger, Robert Grady, Senate Budget Committee, Talented Guy, Transition Task Force, Venture Capitalist, Wise Choice