Governor Christie signs the budget. Photo by Tim Larsen
Both houses of the New Jersey Legislature passed a budget last night which Governor Chris Christie signed, ending the three day shutdown of non-essential government services.
New Jersey state parks and beaches will be open today, the 4th of July. Courts, MVC offices and all other state operations will return to their normal operating hours tomorrow.
At at 10pm press conference announcing a deal on legislation to change the State’s oversight of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said that would ask Christie to support their desire to pay state employees for their forced day off on July 3.
Kim Guadagno meets with busnesses owners at Bum Rogers Tavern, which is at the entrance to Island Beach State Park
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, the GOP nominee to be the next summer tenant at Island Beach State Park, met with business owners impacted by the New Jersey government shutdown today blasting Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto.
“If I were governor, I sure wouldn’t be sitting on the beach if taxpayers didn’t have access to state beaches. It’s beyond words,” Guadagno said on facebook and twitter.
Lt Governor Kim Guadagno. Photo credit: Tim Larsen/Governor’s office
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno today called on Governor Chris Christie, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Senate President Steve Sweeney to set aside the Horizon bill that is causing the deadlock in Trenton and instead take up a bill sponsored by Assembly Members Declan O’Scanlon and Nancy Muñoz that freezes existing government employee unused sick time payouts at the amounts already accumulated while eliminatinating the practice of lump sum payouts for unused sick time for new employees.
Without a budget from the Democrat controlled State Legislature, Governor Chris Christie ordered non-essential government operations to cease.
In an Executive Order issued at the midnight June 30 deadline for a State Budget, Christie declared a state of emergency and ordered that State Police, state correctional facilities, key child welfare services, state hospitals and treatment facilities, NJ TRANSIT, and operations linked to the health, safety, and welfare of the public, including certain environmental and health monitoring will continue to operate.
Gambling is essential to the operation of New Jersey. The state lottery will not be affected by the closure. Atlantic City Casinos and racetracks will remain open with state oversight.
Governor Chris Christie called a press conference for 4PM this afternoon, presumably to make an announcement regarding the State Budget impasse between the Christie, the State Senate and the General Assembly.
With New Jersey’s state government on the verge of shutting down because the Democrat controlled legislature has failed to pass a budget, Lt.Governor Kim Guadagno, the GOP nominee for Governor, has called on her Democrat opponent, former Goldman Sachs banker Phil Murphy, to intervene in the impasse.
“What is happening with the state budget is a disgusting display of Trenton politics that threatens to grind our state to a halt,” Guadagno said. “With so many problems in New Jersey from property taxes to healthcare, our leaders should be communicating with each other to pass a budget that puts the taxpayers of New Jersey first and separate the Horizon bill from negotiations so it can be thoroughly reviewed. Phil Murphy – as the head of his party – should immediately call his political bosses who are orchestrating this and tell them to stop playing politics with the lives of the people who will be hurt by a government shutdown.”
A Hazlet teenager’s leadership and commitment to his community will have a lasting impact on the RAINE Foundation, the all volunteer local charity that delivers thousands of toys to hundreds of Bayshore families at Christmas and supports families in crisis everyday.
Kyle Mulvey, a Raritan High School junior and a Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 66 of the Twin Lights District of the Monmouth County Council, Boy Scouts of America led 80 volunteers….fellow scouts and members of the Raritan wrestling and football teams..in building a new operations center for RAINE. The project, which is part of Mulvey becoming an Eagle Scout, consisted of acquiring a storage trailer, securing a location and rigging it with shelving and solar powered lighting. RAINE will use the facility to store the supplies it uses to help families in need.
Obamacare has been, to put it mildly, burdensome for small businesses in New Jersey. Soon, the Senate will have a chance to do something about it.
Year after year, when the National Federation of Independent Business surveys its members, they say their number one priority is healthcare, but the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, has made things more difficult for them. Its onerous taxes and mandates have increased costs and reduced choices.
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden is urging all residents and visitors to enjoy their 4th of July holiday celebrations while staying safe from the dangers of illegal fireworks.
“The result of fireworks being handled in the wrong way can cause serious injuries,” said Sheriff Golden. “It’s important to know that the danger is not only limited to general Fourth of July fireworks. Even sparklers should be kept away from children, as they can easily cause harm.”
Fireworks are dangerous, illegal and should only be handled by the professionals, Golden said. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 230 people on average are treated for fireworks related injuries on a daily basis during the month around the July 4th holiday.
Without a budget from the Democrat controlled State Legislature, Governor Chris Christie ordered non-essential government operations to cease.
Obamacare has been, to put it mildly, burdensome for small businesses in New Jersey. Soon, the Senate will have a chance to do something about it.