Posted on 07/02/2006 3:21:55 PM PDT by wagglebee
Atlantic City's casinos were ordered to close Wednesday, the latest casualty of a state government shutdown that entered its second day Sunday after the Legislature failed to adopt a budget by its July 1 deadline.
The head of the Casino Control Commission ordered gaming in Atlantic City to cease at 8 a.m. Wednesday — the day after the July Fourth holiday — if New Jersey fails to enact a budget by then.
Atlantic City's 12 casinos, which require state monitoring, have waged a court battle to remain open, and an appeals court was weighing the matter Sunday. There was no word on when a ruling would be made, courts spokeswoman Winnie Comfort said.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine said Sunday there was "no immediate prospect of a budget." State parks, beaches and historic sites also were expected to shut down Wednesday.
If the casinos shut down, the state would lose an estimated $2 million in tax revenue each day they stayed closed. Republican Assemblyman Francis Blee, whose district includes the casinos, said it was important for them to remain open.
"We will have tens of thousands of individuals, real people, that are going to be hurt by this," he said. "There will be bread-winners who are not bringing home a paycheck."
Corzine shut down nonessential government services Saturday after the Legislature failed to adopt a budget by its July 1 deadline, leaving the state without the means to spend money. Budget talks became heated this year as Corzine, a Democrat, proposed increasing the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent to help overcome a $4.5 billion budget deficit.
Most Democrats in the Assembly and several Senate Democrats oppose the sales tax increase, fearing voter backlash and reserving any tax increase for property tax reform. Assembly Democrats proposed a series of alternatives, some of which Corzine accepted, but both sides remained $1 billion apart as the budget deadline passed.
About 45,000 state employees were furloughed Saturday. Corzine's order allows him to keep 36,000 state employees working without pay. Services such as state police, prisons, mental hospitals and child welfare were to keep operating.
The lottery and road construction projects were among the first to close. A state appellate panel on Sunday ordered horse tracks closed at the end of business Tuesday. It was not immediately known Sunday whether the horse racing industry would file further appeals to keep harness and thoroughbred tracks open past July 4.
Corzine was expected to meet in private Sunday with top Assembly and Senate leaders. Assembly Budget Committee members were called to the Statehouse and were discussing alternatives to a sales tax increase, panel chairman Lou Greenwald said.
The Senate is scheduled to meet on Monday, and Senate President Richard J. Codey has told senators to be ready to stay in session until a budget is adopted.
"Let's get on with getting this problem solved," Corzine said while touring a state police dispatch center in Hamilton on Sunday, emphasizing he couldn't "sign a bill that doesn't exist."
Republicans, the minority party in both the Assembly and Senate, have expressed frustration.
"I'm appalled that this reached this stage," said Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon. "It is very unfortunate that the Democratic governor and Democratic majorities in the Legislature could not achieve a budget in place by June 30, and now all the people of New Jersey suffer as a result."
Some lottery sellers — and many customers — were surprised to learn that the games were being put on hold until the budget impasse is resolved.
"People will be angry, but we can't do anything about it," said Umesh Patel, 40, owner of Deli Delight in Ewing. "I don't know how long it's going to be, so let's just see what happens next."
Like hell, the operations he is shutting down will cause them to increase the tax to 10% to make up for the lost revenue.
"State parks, beaches and historic sites also were expected to shut down Wednesday."
Good move! You've got to be sure ordinary citizens feel the pinch. If you shut things down in a sensible fashion, lots of little people would quickly realize how little value government delivers.
No, they would be considered "essential" employees.
He's f**kin' shutting what?!? That motherf**ker. I'll get that f**kin' bearded half-a-freak. I'll f**kin' shut him down. That f**k. F**kin' degenerate politician f**k. This ain't right, I'm telling ya...*
Add appoximately 24 more uses of the word f**k.
And just in time for the holiday as well!
I'm sure this will make Corzine extra popular....
...as a dart target.
Beaches,parks, and campgrounds are open through July 4th but they may be closed afterwards. 45,000 employees have been put on furlough. The Meadowlands will be shut down, so any events there will be cancelled
10-5 Odds it stays open!!!
"I Went to New Jersey and All I Could Do Was Get This Lousy T-Shirt"
I haven't seen this posted in awhile but somehow this must be Bush's fault.
I went to NJ and all I got was being able to pay the tolls.
if only all the beaches were shut over this whole weekend, that would have gotten alot of traction on this issue.
Best post of the weekend nomination.
ROFL!!
It will be fun watching the union bosses destroy a 'Rat.
Sunday, July 2, 2006
MONMOUTH PARK, MEADOWLANDS TO REMAIN OPEN THROUGH TUESDAY, JULY 4 FOR LIVE AND SIMULCAST RACING
Oceanport, N.J. - Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, and the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, will be open for live and simulcast racing through the last live Thoroughbred race at Monmouth on Tuesday, July 4.
Am I reading this correctly? They don't want to increase the sales tax, but rather they are reserving tax increases for "property tax reform"?
Generally, "property tax reform" does not mean raising property taxes.
Maybe they speak a slightly different language in Trenton.
they do that in much of the northeast - its a way to feed more money into the teachers unions. the property tax is primarily composed of school taxes, which have been rising 3x the inflation rate as teachers/administrators salaries and pensions zoom. the state raises broader based taxes, and kicks some of that money back to defray the impact of the school tax increases, to calm the sheeple from rebelling against the public education complex.
When the 'Rats talk about taxes, LOWERING them is NEVER a real consideration.
Um, why does the "scourge of gambling" need to be stopped? Personally, I don't gamble - not even a lottery ticket. So, why should I care?
And just for argument, if a budget crisis is an acceptable costs of ending gambling, why wouldn't arson also be acceptable? (I may be sorry I asked that).
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