Corzine Orders New Jersey Government Shutdown Published: July 2, 2006 TRENTON, July 1 — Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed an executive order on Saturday shutting down the state's government, for the first time in its history. Horse racing at the state's tracks was called off, road construction projects were halted and roughly 45,000 of the state's 80,000 employees were put on furlough. The order, a result of an impasse between the governor and the State Legislature over the budget for the new fiscal year, began a process in which the state, over the next few days, may close state parks, two state-run beaches and, depending on the outcome of a court case, the 12 Atlantic City casinos. Essential operations, like the prisons, the state police, child protection services and mental hospitals, continued to run. But some effects were felt almost immediately. Operations of the Department of Motor Vehicles were suspended when offices around the state closed at noon on Saturday. Courts were to stop all but emergency operations. And the New Jersey Lottery, with $2 billion in annual sales — the state's fourth-largest source of revenue after taxes on income, sales and corporations — was ordered to stop selling tickets Saturday night. The holiday weekend cushioned the effects of the executive order on New Jersey residents. But because the shutdown was unprecedented, it carried symbolic weight. "It gives me no joy, no satisfaction, no sense of empowerment to do what I am forced to do," Mr. Corzine said. "We will do everything we can to bring this to a short conclusion." The status of the casinos remained unclear. Lawyers representing the casinos had gone to a state appellate court on Friday seeking a ruling that would allow them to remain open. But the court said that it had no jurisdiction to consider the request until after Mr. Corzine issued a shutdown order. The court was expected to take up the matter after Mr. Corzine signed the order. Stuart Rabner, the governor's chief counsel, said that if a judge upheld Mr. Corzine's request, casinos — which take in roughly $13 million a day — could be closed as soon as the morning after the issuance of a ruling. Mr. Corzine, a Democrat in his first year as governor, said that he felt compelled to sign the order after he and the Democratic-controlled Legislature could not reach agreement on his proposal to help balance the budget by raising the sales tax to 7 percent from 6 percent. The governor has argued that the sales tax increase is needed to close a deficit of roughly $4.5 billion in the state's $31 billion budget. But a group of legislators, led by Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr., opposed the new tax, arguing that the deficit could be closed by cutting spending and expanding existing taxes. And even in New Jersey, where politics can be a contact sport, the body blows that accompanied the budget debate have been noteworthy. Earlier in the week, a legislator had to break up a shoving match during a committee meeting. And Mr. Corzine, in a bit of gamesmanship, ordered a cot for his office, in a maneuver that aides said demonstrated his resolve to stay at the State House until he had a budget deal. Negotiations continued, in an effort to meet a midnight deadline on Friday, when the 2006 fiscal year ended. Mr. Corzine said on Saturday that talks had broken down between him and Mr. Roberts, though the sides had agreed on all but about $1 billion in spending cuts and revenue increases. Mr. Corzine has said he believes that the increase in the sales tax would generate about $1.1 billion. New Jersey had missed the June 30 budget deadline three times in the past five years, but no governor had ever ordered a shutdown, according to the state's Office of Legislative Services, the research arm of the Legislature. "New Jersey has experienced budget delays before," said David P. Rebovich, managing director of the Rider University Institute for New Jersey Politics. "But never a shutdown." "There may be political consequences," he added. Watching the fighting between the governor and his fellow Democrats in the legislative leadership, Republican lawmakers, who oppose the sales tax increase, have seized on the issue. "The Democrats that run the Legislature had 101 days to enact the governor's proposed budget, modify the budget that was provided to them, or propose one of their own," said a Republican state senator from Sussex County, Robert E. Littell, who was referring to the number of days since Mr. Corzine's budget address on March 21. "Yet they have done neither. Instead, they have subjected the people of New Jersey to a State House version of the Mad Hatter's tea party."
My son Scott is a NJ State Trooper. They are already woefully undermanned and Corzine has previously declared that the current class of recruits, who graduate shortly, will be the last for some time. Scott had his vacation, scheduled for next week, cancelled today. No where will you hear talk of the politicans tightening their belts or trimming government fat. Canceling the lottery makes no sense either since it is a revenue generator. It's amess.
Postscript. Today the NJSP announced that the current, and last, academy class need not report until further notice. They have three weeks to go until their graduation in a 23 week class. My son was also informed that, not only would he not be allowed any vacation time, but he would not be paid until further notice either. Seems the entire state payroll department is layed off.
8) I'm not enjoying this spectacle, but I am curious to see how much pain the people of New Jersey are willing to endure in the cause of electing liberal Democrats. Something similar to this happened here in California, where the liberal Democrats also controlled everything from top to bottom, just the way they do now in New Jersey. When our state's credit rating finally reached junk bond status, and the power grid shut down, and the schools, prisons and hospitals neared the brink of collapse, the voters finally reacted. We impeached and removed our governor (who had just been reelected) and threatened every politician in the state in both parties... Please note; our current governor, Mr. Schwarzenegger, signed the new state budget on-time last week. He and the liberal Democrats who control the legislature had no problems working out the necessary compromises and they didn't raise taxes neither... The only people who can set this situation straight are the voters...when they get mad enough...
I live in Howell township in Monmouth county. If you look at a map we are on the coast right in the center of the state. Monmouth county is strongly republican as is Ocean county to the south. The problem lies up north where the unions continue to be strong. It's still old style politics up there. What's interesting here is that the democratic party is at odds with their elected governor as well. Since this is a new precedent I'm not sure how much pain we are willing to endure. The holiday weekend has bought them some time; they are in full session today in fact. So far they have canceled all road work and the lottery. Tomorrow they are scheduled to close all state parks and race tracks as well as Giants Stadium and the arena. Casinos may close as well. Seems like they are concentrating on all revenue producing venues which I don't understand. I hope we follow California's lead...
I don't understand shutting down all the revenue producing venue's. Strange situation and I'm glad it's not either Florida or North Carolina.
Yep all casino's shut down right now....ha ha all you suckers down there on vacation, your all saving money now. I know how do you close the money makers making money for the state? WHy you paying workers to sit home? ha ha all you fools who voted for that +_#& off Corzine. Krebsie, Yeah, I don't mind it with my 50 mile commute to work but man are the NJSP depleted, you barely see them on the road anymore.
ND77... He's been on the road for a year. At his barracks( Hamilton ) they have a minimum manpower requirement of seven road troopers at all times. He doesn't think thye have ever had more than six.