So is Atlantic City shutting down over this budget mess or not?

DrewOnTilt · #1 06-30-2006, 11:18 PM

CBS Philadelphia affiliate just reported that casinos could start shutting down at midnight if the New Jersey state budget crisis isn't resolved by midnight, since the casinos require state financial monitoring 24/7.

WTF? I thought this bullsheeyat had been resolved?

mdelcorso · #2 07-01-2006, 12:14 AM

The budget deadline has passed as of midnight with no agreement. The governor now has the ability to shut down the state government, including the casino control commission which would close the casinos. Not quite sure if he's actually doing to do it or not. He also has the ability to shut down only portions, so CCC could stay operational even in a partial shutdown...

The casinos tried to block this in court today but were turned down by the court.

If you're wondering, New Jersey has a constitutional amendment that prohibits the government from operating without a budget... Normally I'd advise shutting down the NJ state government permanently, but I want to check out the Borg's new room!

TheJunkyardGod · #3 07-01-2006, 12:41 AM

I think there was an article posted in the Borgata thread that said Corzine said he wouldnt shut anything down until after the Holiday.

mdelcorso · #4 07-01-2006, 12:49 AM

Just because he says they won't shut it down doesn't mean they actually won't... this is new jersey, state of corruption...

CCx · #5 07-01-2006, 12:54 AM

i just got done gambling my ass off after midnight... things are status quo as far as i can tell

Yobz · #6 07-01-2006, 02:29 AM

Man, I'm glad I moved out of that state.

afish · #7 07-01-2006, 04:13 AM

Yea, NJ is going to shut down a major source of tax revenue even thought they said they won't do it. Very likely.

schwerd2 · #8 07-01-2006, 04:21 AM

fukkkk!

DrewOnTilt · #9 07-01-2006, 10:38 AM

Still no word on this mess in the news. Man, I really don't want to drive all the way there only to have to turn around. Any news, anyone?

CCx · #10 07-01-2006, 10:38 AM

It's not shutting down, drive your ass down here and gamble.

Corzine puts shutdown off til after July 4
Gov. Jon Corzine this morning offered a bit of flexibility on the Constitutional deadline that says state government must close down if there is no budget in place by midnight Friday, saying he would probably not move to shutter state parks, casinoes or other services until after the holiday weekend.

"There has been a precedent you're willing to wait," he said at a press conference in West Trenton this morning. "I couldn't postpone that for much longer than the weekend."

Asked later whether his definition of "weekend" included the Fourth of July holiday, Corzine later suggested that "New Jersey citizens" would include the full holiday in their definition of weekend.

Corzine said that if there is no budget approved by Saturday he will sign an executive order giving him the power to shut down an array of state services, based on the Constitutional prohibition against spending money without budget authorization.

He held out the hope, however, that he would not have to use the powers granted by that order.

"I still believe we will get to a settlement in a relatively early period," he said.

Budget negotiations stalled yesterday, when Assembly Democrats tabled an alternative plan they presented to avoid the 1-cent sales tax increase Corzine has included in his budget proposal. Senate Democrats have proposed including the higher sales tax in the new budget, but reserving about half the $1.2 billion it is scheduled to raise for use as property tax relief later this year. The Senate has not yet drafted a full budget.