Atlantic City casinos may close tomorrow if no budget today

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

The problem is much more complex...

The senators and assemblymen are responsible to put a budget on the Governor's desk in time for him to either sign or veto by July 1.... they didn't and still haven't..
The Gov is stuck until he has something to even look at..

The constitution of our state says that not one penny can be spent without a budget.... not one cent... Technically, the gov could have told everyone to stay home.. he used his powers to declare a state of emergency (usually applies to natural disasters) which allowed him to demand essential (only to protect life and limb) employees to stay on the job... without any ability to pay them.... Only state police, and prisoner/patient care..

Essential personnel that protect "income", are not considered essential in a state of emergency.

The gov's hands are tied, he is stretching the law as far as he can..

It is up to the legislators to either pass the gov's budget or come up with their own but get something on his desk... NOW!

Question: "Where are the state senators and representatives??"

Answer: At the center of this entire fiasco..

The stalemate seems to be over a raise of the state sales tax going from 6% up to 7%... about $260 a year for the average family... 41,000 State workers have already lost more than that, by tomorrow another 40-60,000 employees of the casinos will lose more than that. Small businesses that are supported by the state and casino workers are reporting losses that jeopardize their very existence.

The governor has put a cot in his office and refuses to leave until he gets a budget on his desk..

Right now this situation is very ugly and getting worse..

Pete

That's what a thought...a fiasco indeed!
Connie

[cluemeister Member Find all posts View Profile Close cluemeister]

"The stalemate seems to be over a raise of the state sales tax going from 6% up to 7%... about $260 a year for the average family... 41,000 State workers have already lost more than that, by tomorrow another 40-60,000 employees of the casinos will lose more than that. Small businesses that are supported by the state and casino workers are reporting losses that jeopardize their very existence."

Please. NJ residents are taxed every time they turn around, and the Governor is now asking for more as revenue pours into state coffers. Shutting down state government will backfire on this governor.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Please. NJ residents are taxed every time they turn around, and the Governor is now asking for more as revenue pours into state coffers. Shutting down state government will backfire on this governor.

Just look to your north. Our sales tax is 8.5% and 3% on clothing items under $100.

My understanding is that there are large shortfalls in the NJ state employee pension funds due to non-contribution/mismanagement from the state in the past. It is just a shame that the same people who will eventually be collecting those pensions are the ones on unpaid furlough.

Unfortunately the governor is being blamed for all of this when it is the assembly that should bear the brunt of the public ire.

I do hope some form of resolution is arrived at soon.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Would it not figure. My wife's girlfriend calls last night and asks, Hey you want to go to Mohegan Sun for an overnighter. So now I will have peace and quit for 24 hours.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Would it not figure. My wife's girlfriend calls last night and asks, Hey you want to go to Mohegan Sun for an overnighter. So now I will have peace and quit for 24 hours.

I think Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods (and now BigFrank) are the ONLY ones benefitting from this fiasco. Must be mobbed up there!

[PeterS Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close PeterS]

"The stalemate seems to be over a raise of the state sales tax going from 6% up to 7%... about $260 a year for the average family... 41,000 State workers have already lost more than that, by tomorrow another 40-60,000 employees of the casinos will lose more than that. Small businesses that are supported by the state and casino workers are reporting losses that jeopardize their very existence."

Please. NJ residents are taxed every time they turn around, and the Governor is now asking for more as revenue pours into state coffers. Shutting down state government will backfire on this governor.

Actually the legislature shutdown the state when they didn't present a budget. If it weren't for the gov, child abuse hotlines, security at prisons, feeding of clients in our institutions would all be cutoff because of the inaction of the legislature.

And as Lawren so well stated, a rise to 7% is still low for the area as NYC and Philly compound a city tax and NYC even taxes clothes. NJ is in the bottom 10% for gas taxes with PA being almost 40% higher...

The extra 1% sales tax would spread the burden over all NJ residents AND people visiting from out of state AND even people who order merchandise from companies that have a presence in NJ... If they implement an increase in the income tax (as Roberts wants) the burden is only spread over NJ residents.. no matter how you slice the pie, the fewer people you spread the burden over.. the more burden you put on the participants.

And for those that scream cut, cut, cut... about 60% of the state budget is in grants and entitlements.. meaning 60% goes right back out to municipal aid (to reduce or control real estate taxes) to educational programs, to senior prescription programs, to welfare checks.... none of which anyone wants to cut. The cost of the state workforce including salaries, rent, utilities, etc... the cost of doing business is 7% of the entire budget.. a pittance of the budget (few private businesses can claim 7% cost of doing business) and if you want to know how it feels to be short of stateworkers... NJ residents are feeling it now..

All this fiscal information can be found at www.state.nj.us search for "Budget in Brief" and it is all there.

You need workers to keep the Motor Vehicle lines moving, inspecting DEP projects, keeping roads and bridges safe for travel,etc...

I personally believe the gov's budget is the best of a bunch of bad options and if the assembly has a true better budget without the gimmicks that screwed up the government over the last 8 years... then put it on the table.. send it to the gov...

You can't blame the gov for not signing a budget into law if he doesn't have one to sign.

Pete

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

major Announcement at 4PM eastern

Heard on 1010WINS in the car that both sides have come to an agreement.

NJ Official: Deal Reached
A high-ranking Statehouse official says New Jersey's governor and lawmakers have reached a deal on a new state budget. Thousands of New Jersey state and casino workers protested outside of the Statehouse this afternoon. 1010 WINS will carry the press conference live at 4 p.m.

1010AM radio or their website


www.1010wins.com

[funtime2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close funtime2]

Wonder what will happen when election time comes around?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Lawren, stay away from the casinos, save your money for some getaways when you get back

[PeterS Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close PeterS]

If all goes well... (no celebrating until it is signed and sealed).. the casinos will be up and running sometime on Saturday and all other offices should return to normal hours on Monday.

Who catches the heat in the next election will be interesting to watch..

Pete