Tom Davis reports for The Patch
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said there will be no government shutdown when the new fiscal year begins on Monday.
Murphy made the announcement on Thursday that, going into the July 4 holiday, beaches and parks will be open, state employees will be getting a paycheck and “the gates will be open” at state facilities.
“I cannot and will not subject our residents to the inconvenience they would suffer under a government shutdown,” Murphy said.
He said closing parks and beaches “only punishes the innocent.”
Murphy did, however, hint that he will possibly line-item veto parts of the budget as he continues to push for a millionaire’s tax.
“I will meet our constitutional deadline and sign a budget,” he said.
Murphy said talks between his administration and the Democratic-controlled legislature have been constructive and “all options are on the table” – except a shutdown.
“I’m taking a government shutdown off the table,” he said.
While both sides disagree over taxes, there are a number of issues that could have sidetracked state officials and led to the second New Jersey government shutdown in three years.
A government shutdown would have meant: shutting down Motor Vehicle Commission offices, courts and state parks and leaving thousands of state workers without a paycheck.
Murphy could line-item veto what he calls “pork” in the budget if he doesn’t get his signature plan – a tax on everyone making $1 million or more. Or he could take no action.
The lawmakers could override his vetoes, and there is a lot of acrimony between Murphy and the Democratic legislature that’s bigger than any tax, and a number of things could continue to cause problems – even without a shutdown:
- Murphy wants what he calls “a modest fee” on opioid manufacturers and distributors to help offset state costs for programs to fight the opioid epidemic and support recovery. The Legislature’s budget, he said, “failed” to include Murphy’s proposed fee on opioid manufacturers and distributors, along with numerous other revenue raisers, to help offset the costs for additional spending. The assessment on manufacturers and distributors would raise an estimated $21.5 million in new revenue to fight the opioid crisis devastating New Jersey’s families, he said.’
