Winning tickets will not be honored until the budget impasse is resolved.

Hopefully this is resolved soon. I'm sure those who win something would be upset not to be able to collect their winnings.

The "fool" that this governor is making of himself. Some buisnessman he is.!

He bites the hands that feed him.Smart mule, real smart...!

Well when it comes time to vote send that governor the pink slip and get a new one.  He seems like he is not looking out for the best of the state of new jersey.  I would send some of the those legislators a pink slip too.-weshar75

This guy ran on a campaign of lowering taxes, then snubbed everyone by demanding higher taxes to pay off the special interests that got him elected. It's typical NJ corrupt politics. I say we should thumb our noses to New Jersey as a whole. If they raise sales tax, then start shopping elsewhere. If you need a casino fix, go to Connecticut, New York, Delaware, West Virginia, or Ontario. Need Mega Millions? Buy them in New York or Maryland (Powerball in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware is a better deal right now).

I have been playing in other states. It's hard to because of either travel costs or if I played online they charge a 100% vig. Oh.. I get it.. this is OUR fault.. and/or Christie Whitman's fault.. or even George Bush's fault. I didn't advise any of them how to manage the budget and there is no convenient place to look it up to understand it better why there is such a problem with it. The deficit was there last year and even McGreedy didn't do this nonsense. Somebody please tell me how putting a burden on all these people who depend on these services, is going to make everyone richer tomorrow. I simply don't see it. I have a few play-aheads in nj but if/when they reopen I might boycott it a whle longer.

You must realize that the governor is not a fool.  He is just doing what the constitution of New Jersey tells him to do.  When you can't agree on a budget but the deadline you can't run the government.  They will battle it out in the next few days and it will get accomplished but it isn't the governors fault.  I mean he doesn't want to go through budget cuts and cut essential services like health care and education.  It will be interesting to see the outcome of this situation.

Brad

Brad, thax for being smart in a sea of stupid  Folks need to realize, i think over 90% of States' constitution demand a balanced budget for the fiscal year

. It's not the dude's fault.

BTW: I'm not calling LP members stuipd. I'm calling those that are blaming Corzine (sp)

Brad & Winner2b,

You two are not in NJ, so I'm not sure you know everything about this that we NJ people do.

This Governor is the worst of the worst.  He outright lied about everything.  He said he would lower taxes, and now is basically holding the state hostage, and refuses to budge until the state sales tax is raised to 7%.

He alone has the power to circumvent this "budget crisis" (a term made up by the spinners).  There is absolutely no reason to shut down the government.  It is a strong-arm negatiating tactic that is hurting everyone, instead of solving the problem.

If the representatives give into him and raise the tax, he wins but we all lose.

You two would feel a lot differently about this if it was happening to you.

You two do not live in the most corrupt state in the nation.

I do.

New Jersey is a police state. They are trying to legislate a lifestyle. I remember being a hostage to the NJ campaigns (as well as the PA ones despite living in DE, an unfortunate result of the proximity to Philadelphia). Corzine just seemed like he'd be a crook more than his opponent. He just acted like he was playing the game. Unfortunately, most voters in New Jersey aren't intelligent enough to realize what they are doing to themselves. Same is true for fickle senior citizens in Pennsylvania. I cite the election of Gov. Rendell, the re-election of Philly mayor Street, and the 3 time election of Scranton mayor Connors (who won the election by literally singing and dancing for senior citizens at church festivals).

This could be the M.O. for the governor: everyone to say PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY, PLEASE RAISE OUR SALES TAX TO 7%, OR 10%, OR WHATEVER YOU WANT, YOUR EXCELLENCY! ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN SHUTTING EVERYTHING DOWN!!! Then later on to say "you WANTED me to raise the sales tax, so I did, so you should re-elect me."  I think the tactic is also know as "extortion."

Perhaps some of the $1 billion he needs is to install those cameras that photograph your license plate and send you an automatic ticket if you're 1mph or more over the limit.

I'm almost starting to miss McGreedy! 

Look on the bright side, look at the money you saving

.... well, i'm going to play my Mega Millions tickets over in New York. I'm sure, I cannot be the only one here in New Jersey that's playing else where. LOL New York will probably see a rise in lottery sales and will welcome the revenue. The lost revenue New Jersey would have had.

The worst thing about the New Jersey situation is that it helps NY Lotto and PA Unlucky for Life. At least both games are struggling.

Didn't this governor just take office in January?  I mean I am sure the governor knew this was a holiday weekend and saw that everything was going to be closed anyway.  This will be fixed by Wednesday at the lastest.

This situation happened in an episode of "The West Wing".  The executive branch has the power to do things like this. 

There is something that bugs me about this situation though....because it is a democrat governor fighting with a democrat assembly.  Now if it was a republican assembly then it wouldn't be such a weird situtation.

The governor of NJ is a tough guy.  We need more of them in politics.  Enough of this bargaining until there is no bargaining left to bargain.  He is just trying to get something done.

Brad

How is closing the lottery and casinos going to help with a budget shortfall? Wouldn't it make more sense to keep current revenue coming in until you can figure out a way to increase revenue or decrease spending?

It was done to bypass the Checks and Balances of Government.

The system of checks and balances is an important part of the Constitution. With checks and balances, each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. Each branch "checks" the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them. How does this system of checks and balances work?

The process of how laws are made is a good example of checks and balances in action. First, the legislative branch introduces and votes on a bill. The bill then goes to the executive branch, where the Governor decides whether he thinks the bill is good for the state. If so, he signs the bill, and it becomes a law.

If the Governor does not believe the bill is good for the state, he does not sign it. This is called a veto. But the legislative branch gets another chance. With enough votes, the legislative branch can override the executive branch's veto, and the bill becomes a law.

Once a law is in place, the people of the state can test it through the court system, which is under the control of the judicial branch. If someone believes a law is unfair, a lawsuit can be filed. Lawyers then make arguments for and against the case, and a judge decides which side has presented the most convincing arguments. The side that loses can choose to appeal to a higher court, and may eventually reach the highest court of all, the Supreme Court.

If the legislative branch does not agree with the way in which the judicial branch has interpreted the law, they can introduce a new piece of legislation, and the process starts all over again.

This is the craziest story I have read in some time!

You obviously just support anyone who is a liberal, because no other explanation of your post makes any sense.

Well maybe I just worded it bad then.  Because I don't support just any liberal.  I support the governor doing what the constitution tells him to do.  I mean really....he knew this was going to be a holiday weekend with everything closed anyway.  Everything is staying open until Wednesday which I bet will be the day they reach an agreement.  I am not saying I agree with either side.....to raise taxes or not....but I agree with the governor following the constitutions guidelines.  If it was a Republican governor I would feel the same way.  I mean who really was going to get their license renewed or plates for their car because pretty much that is the only difference that should be seen until Wednesday.  Everything else is either closed or doesn't effect the normal day to day life of the people.  (except for the lottery, which makes hard core gamblers get their fix somewhere else)

Brad

No comment...

casinos closed thats millions     come on down to Biloxi were open

Did you not read what I said about the Governor NOT being required to shut down the state government?  Or do you just not believe me?

i grew up in NJ and my parents still live there.
what you guys may not realize is that in three of the past 5 years the fiscal budget was not met yet the previous governors did not shut down the gov't the let it "lapse" and moved forward. I dont know of any other governor in the US that has done this. correct me if i am wrong...he will not be reelected

Trained2beRich,

Thank you, that's exactly the point I was trying to get across to Brad.  There is nothing in the constitution that ties the Governor's hands into shutting down the government.  It is pure nonesense -- at the New Jersey taxpayers' expense.

Corzine could care less.  He has so much money that he knows nothing about the effect his policies have on "normal" people.

Brad,

    Are you for real?  You don't take revenue  off the table if you're trying to bridge a deficeit...! If you lived in this State you might have a different mentality.

Ok I will agree that I am not in the state and never have been a resident of the state of New Jersey.  I am trying to give a non-biased "out of the box" opinion.

I understand that this has happened before in the past couple years but they hammered out a deal within two days of the deadline.  I guess the governor knew it would take longer this time around.

I am not saying this isn't political suicide.  But the people that live in New Jersey...would you like to pay an extra penny for every dollar you spend on goods or would you like to see billions of dollars cut from the budget which in turn would mean less services to the people of the state of New Jersey.

To the residents of New Jersey:  Tell me how this is effecting your every day life.  Maybe that will give me some insight.  Besides the obvious lack of a lottery.  How is this political consequence effecting you?

Brad

In reading the assortment of responses, (which  have been eye openers), I do think that Brad is being misunderstood. He stands by the "principle" of a constitution bestowed to those in power. He may well have a few facts mistated but more over I think the response was middle ground and informative.  Being outside looking in doesnt make the perspective any less worthy or accurate. Its refreshing that some folks are objective and not subjective.

I would like to see some of the unnecessary construction cut. It just ties up traffic everywhere. Must ALL OF the bridges on Route 46 be demolished and rebuilt, plus the 23 interchange, AT THE SAME TIME? They're even hinting at cutting off prescription drug aid and hospitals. This is much more than just the Lottery/Casinos/Racetrack. This is what happens when people depend TOO MUCH on Government to provide for them. I'd rather see all those services privatized so they'd be there no matter what the problem is in Trenton. I'll even fork over the extra penny if they would be clear about what it's specifically needed for.

I would have matched a "pair" in nj on the Pick 3 if I were able to play it today. I'm curious if anyone won on a play-ahead a big prize and now they're sitting on it waiting for His Royal Highness to allow them to claim their prize. 

Brad,

    The whole point of this discussion, Is that He didn't have to shut government down period...! He has chosen to put himself in the history books as the only person to shut a state governing body down, because and only because the legislature woundn't give in to him and pass his raising of the sales tax. It's a bargaining tactic that has been used for a long time, but not with the reckless abandonment that he has used..!

      Whom is this going to effect? It has long range reprocussions that will virtually effect everyone in this State from small children to the elderly.

      There were other avenues for raising the needed revenue to bridge the budget, but he chose to "bully' the legislature with his take it or leave it attitude. He has shown that he could care less about the individual who is strugling to make a living.

      Look at it in this perspective. It's the fourth quarter with 11 seconds left, score is

20-17, no time outs and your on the 10 yard line and all you have to do is kick a field goal and the game will continue, but  as the head coach you choose to go for the win instead of the tie and decide to take points off the scoreboard for a moment of glory. If I'm in this posistion I kick the field goal and go on rather than demoralize the players and fans and I would do that because I'm the head coach with a lot of good assistant coaches who work with me. Clearer heads prevail in groups not as individuals...!

        I will not call him the governor, because to Me his is not...! A real Governor would not take tax dollars off the table when their is a budget crisis. If someone proposes something  and it isn't satifactory to everyone else concerned, than you look for alturnatives, rather than use an executive right  to "bully" your way into the history books. How pathetic is he, that he can't even live up to the job that people of this State entrusted him to do. He had other avenues to follow which I reiderate to you, but chose Not too...!

If someone starts a recall petition for him, you can bet I'll be right there every step of the way. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and this is MINE. I have no use for LIARS, nor Dictators period...!!!!!!