Private in New Jersey

Private in New Jersey

New Jersey's new Republican governor, Chris Christie, is creating a commission that will recommend what state government functions could be done better -- and cheaper -- by the private sector. The commission will examine hundreds of regulatory bodies to see which might be closed or privatized as part of the governor's plan to reduce an $11 billion deficit left by his Democratic predecessor, Jon Corzine.

Christie may also suspend civil service rules to make it easier to lay off higher paid workers. This would be a switch from the way things are usually done in a state dominated by...