New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and lawmakers reached a deal yesterday on a state budget, six days into a government shutdown that shuttered casinos and threw more than 80,000 people out of work.
Corzine said about 5 p.m. that the shutdown would end in 24 to 36 hours. The budget bills first must pass both the Senate and Assembly.
He cautioned that the budget accord was not cause for celebration, because too many residents' lives had been disrupted.
"We have much more to do in the coming months and years to fix our state's public finances," he said.
The deal will increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent and use half the $1.1 billion from the tax boost to help lower property taxes, which are among the highest in the nation. It allows the possibility that someday the entire increase will go to property-tax relief.
"I honestly think that in the end with the agreement that we have reached, our state and more importantly our citizens are all emerging as winners," said Senate President Richard J. Codey.
Democrats who control the Assembly had opposed the sales-tax increase, which would cost the average family an estimated $275 per year.
"This is a very, very fair resolution: good for the state, good for the taxpayers," said Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts Jr., who had been the main opponent of the increase.
Republicans blasted the agreement.
"Robbing Peter to pay Paul is not the solution to our property-tax crisis," said Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance.
Corzine, a Democrat, shut down nonessential government operations on Saturday after the Legislature failed to pass a budget by the July 1 deadline.
More than 45,000 state workers were furloughed, including those who staff state parks and beaches, and the gambling inspectors who keep an eye on the casinos. Without the inspectors, Atlantic City's dozen casinos had to close Wednesday, putting 36,000 employees out of work.
The casinos stood to lose more than $16 million a day while closed, and the state would lose an estimated $1.3 million a day in the taxes they normally generate.
Casino executives were meeting behind closed doors to plan for reopening the halls.
Dealers and other laid-off workers have not been called in yet, pending official word from the state Casino Control Commission, said Alyce Parker, spokeswoman for Harrah's Entertainment, which has four casinos here.
"We're just happy it's resolved, and let's move on," Parker said.
It was also unclear when lottery sales would resume. Convenience-store owners complained that not only did they each lose hundreds of dollars a day in lottery sales, but also money from sales of items that lottery players usually buy.
"They have to reopen the lottery," said Raj Sing, who owns the Brick Mini-Mart, in Brick, Ocean County, almost pleading. "I don't want to lose my business; this is all I have."
It's a funny (maybe not-so-funny!) thing to read that NJ Democrats feel that by raising the sales tax, "our citizens are all emerging as winners." No, any first grader could tell you that raising the sales tax makes everyone a loser. Plus, the whole "property tax relief" thing is a crock. Check out their logic -- you raise the sales tax, and use some of it to pay back higher property taxes. That right, I feel like a winner now!!!!!
It's a funny (maybe not-so-funny!) thing to read that NJ Democrats feel that by raising the sales tax, "our citizens are all emerging as winners." No, any first grader could tell you that raising the sales tax makes everyone a loser. Plus, the whole "property tax relief" thing is a crock. Check out their logic -- you raise the sales tax, and use some of it to pay back higher property taxes. That right, I feel like a winner now!!!!!
Todd,
What really boggles my little mind is the fact that the State of New Jersey lost $1.3 million in taxes per DAY for each day the casinos were closed.
There's a lot of people thinking exactly the same thing. It is stupid beyond belief, but not so stupid as far as Corzine is concerned. He got exactly what he wanted -- and what the liberal mentality always wants -- higher taxes. By shutting down the lottery and the casinos, he rammed his stupid tax raise down everyone's throat, and in the process cemented his place in history as just another tax-raising New Jersey governor. Truly a personification of the jackass symbol of his party. Can you tell that I'm angry about this?
Convenience-store owners complained that not only did they each lose hundreds of dollars a day in lottery sales, but also money from sales of items that lottery players usually buy.
How did they "lose hundreds of dollars a day"?? I thought that money went to the lottery.
There's a lot of people thinking exactly the same thing. It is stupid beyond belief, but not so stupid as far as Corzine is concerned. He got exactly what he wanted -- and what the liberal mentality always wants -- higher taxes. By shutting down the lottery and the casinos, he rammed his stupid tax raise down everyone's throat, and in the process cemented his place in history as just another tax-raising New Jersey governor. Truly a personification of the jackass symbol of his party. Can you tell that I'm angry about this?
Angry ?
I think you ( and hopefully, lots more voters) went way beyond angry a long time ago...
un _ ingbelieveable how stupid this whole thing really is.
Convenience-store owners complained that not only did they each lose hundreds of dollars a day in lottery sales, but also money from sales of items that lottery players usually buy.
How did they "lose hundreds of dollars a day"?? I thought that money went to the lottery.
i think there refering to retail goods that many stores sell to people .like cigaretts and lottery tickets go hand in hand. Also retailers that sell lottery tickets have to buy the scratchers they sell for the lottery. The lottery dosn't give them (scratchers) to retailers to sell.
Convenience-store owners complained that not only did they each lose hundreds of dollars a day in lottery sales, but also money from sales of items that lottery players usually buy.
How did they "lose hundreds of dollars a day"?? I thought that money went to the lottery.
i think there refering to retail goods that many stores sell to people .like cigaretts and lottery tickets go hand in hand. Also retailers that sell lottery tickets have to buy the scratchers they sell for the lottery. The lottery dosn't give them (scratchers) to retailers to sell.
The amount they lost from actual sales is in the second part of the statement. I did not refer to that part.
I thought the only part of the lottery that was stopped was the purchasing of online tickets. They shut down the "green machines". I never saw anything about the scratchers. Where did you see that they stopped the sale of scratchers, and why would they do that?
Convenience-store owners complained that not only did they each lose hundreds of dollars a day in lottery sales, but also money from sales of items that lottery players usually buy.
How did they "lose hundreds of dollars a day"?? I thought that money went to the lottery.
i think there refering to retail goods that many stores sell to people .like cigaretts and lottery tickets go hand in hand. Also retailers that sell lottery tickets have to buy the scratchers they sell for the lottery. The lottery dosn't give them (scratchers) to retailers to sell.
The amount they lost from actual sales is in the second part of the statement. I did not refer to that part.
I thought the only part of the lottery that was stopped was the purchasing of online tickets. They shut down the "green machines". I never saw anything about the scratchers. Where did you see that they stopped the sale of scratchers, and why would they do that?
Attention Lottery Customers and Retailers
Due to the State budget impasse, the New Jersey Lottery has ceased normal operations.
The Lottery has directed all agents to cease all ticket sales, effective 7:55 pm, Saturday, July 1, 2006.
All lottery terminals will be shut down after the July 1 drawing at 7:55 pm.
There will be no ticket sales (including instant tickets), winning ticket validation, claim payments or any activity on the "Green Machine" terminals after 7:55 pm Saturday.
Oh yea, the head jack-ass of the democratic party of NJ . Well if he had this authority to shut the state down, then why did'nt he call an emergency session of the legislators and tell them to stay until a budget is passed a week previous to JA shutting the State down. Did anyone ever ask this?
If the people of this State DO Not Open your eye's on this one, then you deserve everything thats going to come your way....!
Has the head jack-ass said how he's going to make up the lost revenue from the shutdown. Oh, thats right he's going to lower the high property tax for the people of NJ. How Friggin pathetic is that??????? This guy is lower than whale-dung....!
It's a funny (maybe not-so-funny!) thing to read that NJ Democrats feel that by raising the sales tax, "our citizens are all emerging as winners." No, any first grader could tell you that raising the sales tax makes everyone a loser. Plus, the whole "property tax relief" thing is a crock. Check out their logic -- you raise the sales tax, and use some of it to pay back higher property taxes. That right, I feel like a winner now!!!!!
This is a good story. However if NJ can't play MM on this draw, sales will fall.
It's a funny (maybe not-so-funny!) thing to read that NJ Democrats feel that by raising the sales tax, "our citizens are all emerging as winners." No, any first grader could tell you that raising the sales tax makes everyone a loser. Plus, the whole "property tax relief" thing is a crock. Check out their logic -- you raise the sales tax, and use some of it to pay back higher property taxes. That right, I feel like a winner now!!!!!
Todd,
What really boggles my little mind is the fact that the State of New Jersey lost $1.3 million in taxes per DAY for each day the casinos were closed.
DD
DD,
There's a lot of people thinking exactly the same thing. It is stupid beyond belief, but not so stupid as far as Corzine is concerned. He got exactly what he wanted -- and what the liberal mentality always wants -- higher taxes. By shutting down the lottery and the casinos, he rammed his stupid tax raise down everyone's throat, and in the process cemented his place in history as just another tax-raising New Jersey governor. Truly a personification of the jackass symbol of his party. Can you tell that I'm angry about this?
Convenience-store owners complained that not only did they each lose hundreds of dollars a day in lottery sales, but also money from sales of items that lottery players usually buy.
How did they "lose hundreds of dollars a day"?? I thought that money went to the lottery.
DD,
There's a lot of people thinking exactly the same thing. It is stupid beyond belief, but not so stupid as far as Corzine is concerned. He got exactly what he wanted -- and what the liberal mentality always wants -- higher taxes. By shutting down the lottery and the casinos, he rammed his stupid tax raise down everyone's throat, and in the process cemented his place in history as just another tax-raising New Jersey governor. Truly a personification of the jackass symbol of his party. Can you tell that I'm angry about this?
Angry ?
I think you ( and hopefully, lots more voters) went way beyond angry a long time ago...
un _ ingbelieveable how stupid this whole thing really is.
DD
Convenience-store owners complained that not only did they each lose hundreds of dollars a day in lottery sales, but also money from sales of items that lottery players usually buy.
How did they "lose hundreds of dollars a day"?? I thought that money went to the lottery.
i think there refering to retail goods that many stores sell to people .like cigaretts and lottery tickets go hand in hand. Also retailers that sell lottery tickets have to buy the scratchers they sell for the lottery. The lottery dosn't give them (scratchers) to retailers to sell.
Convenience-store owners complained that not only did they each lose hundreds of dollars a day in lottery sales, but also money from sales of items that lottery players usually buy.
How did they "lose hundreds of dollars a day"?? I thought that money went to the lottery.
i think there refering to retail goods that many stores sell to people .like cigaretts and lottery tickets go hand in hand. Also retailers that sell lottery tickets have to buy the scratchers they sell for the lottery. The lottery dosn't give them (scratchers) to retailers to sell.
The amount they lost from actual sales is in the second part of the statement. I did not refer to that part.
I thought the only part of the lottery that was stopped was the purchasing of online tickets. They shut down the "green machines". I never saw anything about the scratchers. Where did you see that they stopped the sale of scratchers, and why would they do that?
Convenience-store owners complained that not only did they each lose hundreds of dollars a day in lottery sales, but also money from sales of items that lottery players usually buy.
How did they "lose hundreds of dollars a day"?? I thought that money went to the lottery.
i think there refering to retail goods that many stores sell to people .like cigaretts and lottery tickets go hand in hand. Also retailers that sell lottery tickets have to buy the scratchers they sell for the lottery. The lottery dosn't give them (scratchers) to retailers to sell.
The amount they lost from actual sales is in the second part of the statement. I did not refer to that part.
I thought the only part of the lottery that was stopped was the purchasing of online tickets. They shut down the "green machines". I never saw anything about the scratchers. Where did you see that they stopped the sale of scratchers, and why would they do that?
Attention Lottery Customers and Retailers
Due to the State budget impasse, the New Jersey Lottery has ceased normal operations.
The Lottery has directed all agents to cease all ticket sales, effective 7:55 pm, Saturday, July 1, 2006.
All lottery terminals will be shut down after the July 1 drawing at 7:55 pm.
There will be no ticket sales (including instant tickets), winning ticket validation, claim payments or any activity on the "Green Machine" terminals after 7:55 pm Saturday.
http://www.state.nj.us/lottery/
Do they call scratchers "instant tickets"?
http://www.state.nj.us/lottery/instant/2-4_games_list_06.htm
http://www.state.nj.us/lottery/instant/2-4_games_list_06.htm
Wow. I had no idea they were so popular. So, retailers normally sell hundreds of dollars a day of scratchers? Amazing.
http://www.state.nj.us/lottery/instant/2-4_games_list_06.htm
Wow. I had no idea they were so popular. So, retailers normally sell hundreds of dollars a day of scratchers? Amazing.
It's more like thousands of dollars a day!
And their are 6200+ Lottery Agents!
Oh yea, the head jack-ass of the democratic party of NJ . Well if he had this authority to shut the state down, then why did'nt he call an emergency session of the legislators and tell them to stay until a budget is passed a week previous to JA shutting the State down. Did anyone ever ask this?
If the people of this State DO Not Open your eye's on this one, then you deserve everything thats going to come your way....!
Has the head jack-ass said how he's going to make up the lost revenue from the shutdown. Oh, thats right he's going to lower the high property tax for the people of NJ. How Friggin pathetic is that??????? This guy is lower than whale-dung....!