TRENTON, N.J., July 1 (UPI) -- New Jersey's governor shut down the state's government Saturday for the first time in history, saying it was necessary because of a budget deadlock.
The New York Times said Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed an executive order, starting a cascade of shutdowns over the next few days which includes state parks, beaches, racetracks, road construction, lottery and the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Atlantic City's casinos also may be affected.
Lawyers for the casinos went to a state appellate court Friday to keep them open, the Times said, but the court said it had no jurisdiction until Corzine actually signed the executive order.
Essential government operations would continue to function, the newspaper said, such as prisons, state police, child protection services and mental hospitals.
Corzine, a Democrat, is locked in a struggle with the Democrat-controlled Legislature, which has refused to raise the state sales tax to 7 percent from 6 percent to balance the budget.
Corzine said it "gives me no joy, no satisfaction, no sense of empowerment to do what I am forced to do. We will do everything we can to bring this to a short conclusion."
