New York ( CNN ) -- New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie announced Thursday he has reimbursed the state of New Jersey for the cost of using a state police helicopter to travel with his wife to his son 's high school baseball game . The Republican has come under fire from opposition lawmakers and the public since he touched down Tuesday near the ball field in Montvale , about 80 miles from Trenton , the capital . After initially refusing to reimburse the state , Christie has repaid $ 2,151 to cover the cost of his flights to the game , Christie said in a news conference . `` What I know about this business is , perception matters , '' Christie said . `` I 'm not going to allow the media and the hacks of the Democratic power to ... get away from the matter because they want to have a circus . '' Christie claimed he was using the helicopter to balance his responsibilities as a father with his busy schedule as governor . `` I 'm governor 24/7 , every single day , but I 'm also a father , '' he said . Christie , who has taken 33 helicopter flights since assuming office last January , said he has been far more `` judicious '' in his helicopter use than other recent governors , citing Govs . Jim McGreevey , Thomas Kean and James Florio . `` If you look at the way I use this helicopter , it 's not like I 'm using it as a perk of office , '' he said . The Republican budget hawk added that according to the State Police , the travel does not cost taxpayers money , because as the pilots need the flying time in order to be certified . When asked , the governor reiterated that he will not be running for president in the coming election but has refused to `` rule out '' 2016 . The GOP paid for a portion of the helicopter rides , $ 919 , to cover the cost of Christie 's flight from the ballgame to Princeton , where he met with GOP contributors visiting from Iowa , according to Andy Pratt of the New Jersey Treasury . Still , some Democrats were not swayed . `` To use these vehicles to shuttle between both a personal and a political activity is an outright abuse of taxpayer dollars , '' said Democrat Assemblywoman Joan Quigley . The former federal prosecutor , who earned a reputation for battling corruption , was elected on a platform of fiscal discipline and eliminating government waste and abuse . During his first year in office , Christie helped to pass a $ 29 billion budget , narrowing an $ 11 billion deficit with cuts in public-sector spending , including employee pensions and benefits . The governor has since called for some $ 200 million in tax cuts . He has focused on spending reductions on public unions -- particularly the state 's powerful teachers ' unions -- who often have said the governor has used them as an excuse for the state 's broader financial troubles .
Gov . Recommend0 State GOP pays $ 919 to cover flight to political event in Princeton after the game . `` I 'm governor 24/7 , every single day , but I 'm also a father , '' Christie says . Democratic assemblywoman calls it `` outright abuse of taxpayer dollars ''