Provide names of other journalists involved.
Managing editor Lee Keough and copy editor Aaron Fischer helped hone this article.
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
Dec. 7
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
The article looked at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of a state-based health exchange. It examined his reasoning for the veto and the response from state exchange supporters.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Christie’s veto statement and the bill. Public records requests were not required.
Explain types of human sources used.
I spoke with legislators, policy experts, industry lobbyists, a range of political advocates and academics.
Results:
The veto ended discussion of a state-based exchange more than a week before the federal deadline. However, the article set the stage for further debate in 2013 over whether to have a partnership or federal exchange.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
There were no corrections or clarifications.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
When you know that you have a major story (in this case, the deadline for the governor to sign a piece of legislation), let your sources know ahead of time that you will be reaching out to them. With only a few hours to write this story on deadline, I managed to convey a wide range of reactions and analyses of the veto because I already had the sources lined up.