N.J. lawmakers meet amid shutdown Atlantic City's casinos may be closed
TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) -- Legislators opposed to Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposal to raise the sales tax rejected a compromise sought by the governor Tuesday and began devising their own budget plan, which might involve an income tax increase.
Corzine had hauled lawmakers in to work on the July Fourth holiday, imploring them to end a budget standoff that has shut down many government services, while Atlantic City casinos fought to keep from being dragged into the dispute.
Members of the state Assembly budget panel planned to spend the night crafting a new plan, said Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr.
Tuesday's special session came three days after Corzine started shutting down state government because lawmakers missed the July 1 constitutional deadline to approve a new budget. Without a budget, the government can't spend money.
"Make no mistake, people are being hurt and unfortunately more will be hurt in the days ahead," the governor told the lawmakers.
The state lottery, road construction, motor vehicle offices, vehicle inspection stations and courts already have closed. More than half the state work force -- 45,000 people -- was ordered to stay home on Monday. Lost lottery ticket sales are costing the state $2.2 million per day, according to the state treasury.
Closing casinos If no deal is reached, state parks and historic sites would be closed Wednesday along with Atlantic City casinos, which are required to have state regulators on duty.
It would be the first time casinos have been forced to close since Resorts opened its doors in 1978 as New Jersey's first casino-hotel. In the intervening years, they have always managed to keep the doors open, even if it meant shoveling snow, fortifying entrances with sand bags to protect against ocean waves or putting CEOs to work flipping burgers during labor strikes.
Casino operators, whose arguments were rejected by the state Supreme Court in one effort to avoid the budget crunch, lost in a lower court again Tuesday after asking to avoid being shut down as a side effect of the state's problems. An appeal was planned.
"It's uncharted territory," said Joseph Corbo, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey. "We'll obviously try to control it as best we can under the circumstances."
Roberts said he asked Corzine to avoid a casino shutdown by declaring state regulators "essential" employees, or by allowing state police to monitor gambling.
But the governor's emergency powers don't allow him to deem casino workers essential to the health, safety and welfare of state residents, said Stuart Rabner, Corzine's chief counsel.
Some gamblers said they didn't understand why the state would close the casinos during a budget crisis when gambling provides so much in-state revenue -- $1.3 million per day, according to the state Casino Control Commission.
"Why close it down when you could just do your job and put the budget together. That's what they're paid for," slots player Jerome Harper, 42, of Philadelphia, said Tuesday of state officials.
The dispute between the governor and his fellow Democrats who control the Legislature centers on his plan to increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent to help overcome a $4.5 billion budget deficit for his $31 billion spending plan. The proposal would cost the average New Jersey family $275 per year, according to experts.
Corzine had urged the lawmakers to approve a compromise plan rejected Tuesday. Offered by Senate President Richard J. Codey, it would have used half the $1.1 billion raised by his sales tax increase to ease the state's property taxes, among the nation's highest.
Only 15 of 49 Democrats in the state Assembly supported the compromise, Robert said.
Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew said a new plan may involve a proposal to increase the income tax for those earning at least $200,000 per year. In the past, Corzine has rejected proposals to increase the income tax.
Well, I was in the Trump Taj Mahal when the casinos did shutdown and this whole situation is a complete mess. Its frustrating to see how a few egos can completely disturb a region's economy. I am beyond the point of placing blame, both Corzine's and Robert's camps need to get over themselves. These politicians are acting like children who aren't getting their way and it is causing trouble for everyone I know.
I work for an architect in the area that does work almost solely on the casinos and we're put in a very difficult situation. We can't get onto the casino floor and the state code offices are closed, leaving us twiddling our thumbs for the moment.
Wouldn't it have been more practical to slowly alleviate the defecit rather than attempting to completely balance the books in a single year? I am just afraid that treating a state like a business is going to have diasterous results.
On a postive note, since all state park rangers are off, I think my friends might throw a big party in the pine barrens.
Last edited by Kosermoser on Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Well, I sure as hell did not vote for the man. I heard him give a speech in 2005 and he came off as the most pompous asshole imaginable. Not that the alternative was a great choice either, but I just foresaw bad things with this guy.
As for the beaches, most beaches in South Jersey are run by the muncipalities, so they are all open. I think there may be only one or two in my county that are state run and they aren't your real oceanside beaches.
What do you guys in North Jersey think about this one? I imagine your view to be quite different.
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 11:36 pm Posts: 25824 Location: south jersey
New Jersey reaches budget deal - statehouse source
Thu Jul 6, 2006 1:52pm ET
TRENTON, N.J., July 6 (Reuters) - New Jersey lawmakers reached a deal on the state's budget on Thursday that will allow Atlantic City's casinos to reopen after they had been forced shut since Wednesday, a statehouse source said.
The lawmakers have agreed to Gov. Jon Corzine's proposal to increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, a statehouse source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
All 12 of the city's casinos closed after a budget impasse led Corzine to shut down non-essential services.
_________________ Feel the path of every day,... Which road you taking?,...
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 1:14 am Posts: 37778 Location: OmaGOD!!! Gender: Male
warehouse wrote:
New Jersey reaches budget deal - statehouse source Thu Jul 6, 2006 1:52pm ET
TRENTON, N.J., July 6 (Reuters) - New Jersey lawmakers reached a deal on the state's budget on Thursday that will allow Atlantic City's casinos to reopen after they had been forced shut since Wednesday, a statehouse source said.
The lawmakers have agreed to Gov. Jon Corzine's proposal to increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, a statehouse source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
All 12 of the city's casinos closed after a budget impasse led Corzine to shut down non-essential services.
Good Christ, 7% STATE sales tax? How much are local sales taxes?
_________________ Unfortunately, at the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius, the Flower Children jerked off and went back to sleep.
New Jersey reaches budget deal - statehouse source Thu Jul 6, 2006 1:52pm ET
TRENTON, N.J., July 6 (Reuters) - New Jersey lawmakers reached a deal on the state's budget on Thursday that will allow Atlantic City's casinos to reopen after they had been forced shut since Wednesday, a statehouse source said.
The lawmakers have agreed to Gov. Jon Corzine's proposal to increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, a statehouse source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
All 12 of the city's casinos closed after a budget impasse led Corzine to shut down non-essential services.
Good Christ, 7% STATE sales tax? How much are local sales taxes?
There isn't any local sales tax. 7% is still too much. They already have more than enough money to waste. Fuck Corzine. I wish they would just keep their stupid $250 property tax rebates and leave the sales tax alone.
New Jersey reaches budget deal - statehouse source Thu Jul 6, 2006 1:52pm ET
TRENTON, N.J., July 6 (Reuters) - New Jersey lawmakers reached a deal on the state's budget on Thursday that will allow Atlantic City's casinos to reopen after they had been forced shut since Wednesday, a statehouse source said.
The lawmakers have agreed to Gov. Jon Corzine's proposal to increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, a statehouse source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
All 12 of the city's casinos closed after a budget impasse led Corzine to shut down non-essential services.
Good Christ, 7% STATE sales tax? How much are local sales taxes?
There isn't any local sales tax. 7% is still too much. They already have more than enough money to waste. Fuck Corzine. I wish they would just keep their stupid $250 property tax rebates and leave the sales tax alone.
Could be worse, they could have raised the gas tax like CT just did.
New Jersey reaches budget deal - statehouse source Thu Jul 6, 2006 1:52pm ET
TRENTON, N.J., July 6 (Reuters) - New Jersey lawmakers reached a deal on the state's budget on Thursday that will allow Atlantic City's casinos to reopen after they had been forced shut since Wednesday, a statehouse source said.
The lawmakers have agreed to Gov. Jon Corzine's proposal to increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, a statehouse source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
All 12 of the city's casinos closed after a budget impasse led Corzine to shut down non-essential services.
Good Christ, 7% STATE sales tax? How much are local sales taxes?
There isn't any local sales tax. 7% is still too much. They already have more than enough money to waste. Fuck Corzine. I wish they would just keep their stupid $250 property tax rebates and leave the sales tax alone.
Could be worse, they could have raised the gas tax like CT just did.
New Jersey reaches budget deal - statehouse source Thu Jul 6, 2006 1:52pm ET
TRENTON, N.J., July 6 (Reuters) - New Jersey lawmakers reached a deal on the state's budget on Thursday that will allow Atlantic City's casinos to reopen after they had been forced shut since Wednesday, a statehouse source said.
The lawmakers have agreed to Gov. Jon Corzine's proposal to increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, a statehouse source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
All 12 of the city's casinos closed after a budget impasse led Corzine to shut down non-essential services.
Good Christ, 7% STATE sales tax? How much are local sales taxes?
3% goes to the municipality, 3.5% goes to the state, and .5% goes to property tax relief. I don't know how I feel about this one, it is not all that bad when you look at it like that. Its just that they are cutting spending in all the wrong places, and a lot more could be done to trim the fat of the government before a raise in the sales tax.
The thing I am sure of is that major damage is being done to Atlantic City and the whole of Southern New Jersey's economy and the governor hardly gives two shits. The Mohegan Sun in Conneticut has seen record crowds since this occurred and I wonder how easy it will be for Atlantic City to reclaim those individuals. Early estimates place current losses at nearly 40 million dollars.
Wow, 7%. I wonder if that will bring New Jersey up to the highest state sales tax in the country. Doesn't NJ also have astronomical property taxes and car insurance premiums?
One good thing that could come out of it would be that NJ residents wake up and vote Republican this November. Unless, that is, they are content with forking over such a large percentage of the money they earn to tax and spend lunatics.
Massachusetts is hanging in at 5%, but the tax and spend powers-that-be are lobbying to raise it to 6%.
Wow, 7%. I wonder if that will bring New Jersey up to the highest state sales tax in the country. Doesn't NJ also have astronomical property taxes and car insurance premiums? One good thing that could come out of it would be that NJ residents wake up and vote Republican this November. Unless, that is, they are content with forking over such a large percentage of the money they earn to tax and spend lunatics.
Massachusetts is hanging in at 5%, but the tax and spend powers-that-be are lobbying to raise it to 6%.
Yeah, my property taxes are HUGE and my car insurance is just unbelievable. It's really ridiculous.
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 5:57 pm Posts: 941 Location: Buffalo
CitizenByron wrote:
LeninFlux wrote:
Wow, 7%. I wonder if that will bring New Jersey up to the highest state sales tax in the country. Doesn't NJ also have astronomical property taxes and car insurance premiums? One good thing that could come out of it would be that NJ residents wake up and vote Republican this November. Unless, that is, they are content with forking over such a large percentage of the money they earn to tax and spend lunatics.
Massachusetts is hanging in at 5%, but the tax and spend powers-that-be are lobbying to raise it to 6%.
Yeah, my property taxes are HUGE and my car insurance is just unbelievable. It's really ridiculous.
Welcome to life in the blue states.
7% would be great in NY state...depending on what county you live in, it's anywhere between 8 and 9%. We also have the highest property taxes in the nation.
But seriously, what's one more "penny tax?" That's how a 1% hike is defined here.
Meanwhile, government employees retire at 55 and have their pensions paid for by workers in the private industry.
And Medicaid is ridiculous. Medicaid costs here are more than California and Texas (#2 and #3) combined.
_________________ So we finish the 18th...And I say, 'Hey, Lama, how about a little something ,you know, for the effort.' And he says...when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness.'
One good thing that could come out of it would be that NJ residents wake up and vote Republican this November.
It's not like the Republican would have been any better, his campaign was "my opponent's ex-wife does not like him." As a co-worker put it, it was a contest between the the less evil of the two lessers.
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