Welcome to New Jersey

Our governor, John Corzine has enacted a constitutionally mandated shut-down of all state government functions as of July 1 because he couldn't get his state budget passed. Well, most state functions. There are one or two that seem to fly under the radar and get preferential treatment.

The head of the Casino Control Commission ordered gaming in Atlantic City to cease at 8 a.m. Wednesday — the day after the July Fourth holiday — if New Jersey fails to enact a budget by then. Republican Assemblyman Francis Blee, whose district includes the casinos, said it was important for them to remain open.
"We will have tens of thousands of individuals, real people, that are going to be hurt by this," he said. "There will be bread-winners who are not bringing home a paycheck." Well, Mr. Blee, what about all the other state employees who are also bread-winners? Too bad for them that they don't work for a casino, and only operate vital state government functions. We can't concern ourselves with their petty problems - like not having a paycheck. THE CASINOS MIGHT CLOSE!

Or, to look at it another way, tens of thousands of individuals will be bringing home more of their paycheck because they won't be squandering it in the slot machines. I feel bad for the employees, but it is interesting to see how the Casino Control Commission (key word - Control) finds their way around such things as our recently enacted indoor restaurant and bar smoking ban. We are still allowed to smoke in the casino, but not in regular businesses. God forbid they lose any more money. It's OK if we lose it, though, which is comforting to know.

The state stands to lose $2 million in tax revenue each day the casinos are closed. That's a shame, but I'm sure they will raise the gasoline tax or increase some other tax to make up the difference. Here's a radical idea: Tax the casinos a portion of their revenue for the holiday. That won't happen either, because the budget crisis is now the taxpayer's responsibility. Corzine's budget impasse is largely the result of his desire to raise our already high 6 percent sales tax to 7 percent, so the process is off to a rollicking start, ain't it?

The state lottery and road construction projects were the first to close, but the precious casinos will stay open at least through the vital July 4 holiday. We shouldn't allow them to lose their holiday revenues - especially on such a materialistic and patriotic day, should we? That would be wrong ... I guess.

Who's running this place, really?