Gov. Christie Holds on to Fed Tunnel Money

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is gearing up for a fight with the federal government over the repayment of $271 million for a new rail tunnel he decided not to build, the Newark Star Ledger reported Wednesday.

“I ain’t paying it,” Christie said at a town hall meeting. “We’re going to go to court. We’re going to go before an impartial judge and the judge will decide.

Christie has been in a tug-of-war over the money for months with the U.S. Transportation Department. Secretary Ray LaHood sent Christie a letter Friday that said New Jersey received the money only to finish the tunnel.

LaHood said Christie can decide to work out a schedule to repay the money or the federal government can get it back by withholding federal funds.

Christie’s response was blunt. If they want the money, he said, “they’re going to have to come get it.”