By David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor PUBLISHED: 20:45 EST, 18 March 2014 | UPDATED: 05:45 EST, 19 March 2014 New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took on a persistent health care activist Tuesday during a regularly scheduled town hall event in South River, New Jersey, fending off accusations for nearly four minutes. Maura Collinsgru, a health policy advocate with the liberal group New Jersey Citizen Action, blasted Christie during the question-and-answer event, the 114th such town hall he has held since taking office. She blamed him for meeting her fellow activists with 'silence' when they try to help poor New Jerseyans access Medicaid benefits.
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The New Jersey governor fended off rhetorical body blows for nearly four minutes as a pro-Obamacare activist jabbed him about Medicaid access
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Christie, he reminded her, has increased Medicaid spending and accepted federal dollars – unlike more Republican governors – to cover more people
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'You're simply wrong,' Christie blasted, while insisting he won't spend even more money on Obamacare, which he called a 'failed federal program'
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More than a dozen other hecklers interrupted him Tuesday, complaining Occupy Wall Street-style about relief efforts following Super storm Sandy
'You believe @placeholder works, and I do not,' Christie said, becoming more agitated by the minute but earning sustained applause from his audience.