Many New Jersey residents are worried that Governor Jon Corzine?s (D-NJ) move to shutdown the state government will affect their livelihoods.
Corzine says he is willing to work around-the-clock with lawmakers to end the dispute. The governor ordered the shutdown Saturday after lawmakers failed to pass a budget, which included Corzine?s plan to raise the state sales tax from 6 to 7 percent in order to get the state out of the red. The sale of lottery tickets has stopped, courts have slowed down and government offices have already closed. Close to 45,000 state employees are out of work.
New Jersey?s 42 state parks are scheduled to close in the coming days. That has Danny Howansky, a hot dog vendor at Liberty State Park, worried about how he will provide for his disabled son and family. Howansky and many park-goers feel a prolonged shutdown will lead to a spike in requests for welfare.
Officials at Liberty State Park say while they do not have all the answers, they reassure patrons that the annual Fourth of July fireworks display will take place, whether the park is closed or open.
Related InformationClick here to Sound Off! on the NJ government shutdown