Gov. Christie vetoes pig crate bill

NEWARK, N.J. – Republican Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a politically charged bill that would have banned the use of certain pig cages in his state.

In a veto message issued Friday afternoon, Christie, who is seriously considering a 2016 presidential run, called the bill opposing gestation crates a “solution in search of a problem.”

The contraptions, which are so small pregnant pigs can’t turn around in them, are rarely used on New Jersey’s 300 pig farms. But they’re widespread in Iowa, home to the nation’s first presidential nominating caucuses.

In his veto message, Christie criticized legislators for taking up the bill, accusing them of using lawmaking as “a political cudgel.”

Christie said he would leave state policy in the hands of the Board of Agriculture and the Department of Agriculture.