Free Republic

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...