Posted on 06/30/2006 8:27:52 PM PDT by ncountylee
TRENTON, N.J. -- New Jersey lurched into a financial crisis Friday as the midnight deadline to adopt a budget neared and a dispute over the governor's plan to increase the sales tax remained unresolved.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine was expected Saturday morning to order an unprecedented state government shutdown after an hourlong meeting Friday night between Corzine and top legislative officials ended without agreement and significant differences remaining.
"Over the last several days the administration has worked on contingency plans for the orderly shutdown of state government," Corzine spokesman Anthony Coley said. "At this time, it looks like we may well be forced to implement those contingencies."
Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr., D-Camden, who is leading opposition to Corzine's sales tax increase, had harsh words for Corzine, charging him with trying to "strong-arm a tax increase upon the citizens of this state."
We've reached the crisis point, and all because the governor is more interested in imposing a shutdown instead of reaching an agreement that would make a sales tax increase unnecessary," Roberts said. "We consider this threat of a shutdown to be both unconscionable and indefensible."
Senate President Richard J. Codey headed home after the meeting with Corzine, which Coley described as "a frank discussion."
"We're working hard on a solution," said Codey, who supports Corzine's budget plan. "There's a lot of ideas, more ideas than Heinz has got pickles, and we're trying like the Dickens to find the ultimate solution."
(Excerpt) Read more at nbc10.com ...
Yeah this is Bizzaroworld, the Democrats wanting to shut down government during a natural disaster and stop tax increases. They should just make Corzine pay it out of his personal fortune. Didn't he spend 70 million to get the job.
Or switch the plates.
47% of New Jerseyans didn't vote for the guy.
New Jersey is the 2nd wealthiest state in the nation (per capita & family income). It is an absolute disgrace that we are in the financial situation that we are in.
I think as govenor, he will be able to keep all the money he steals. In the Senate, he had to share with the other 99 senators.
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