Bill introduced to expand casinos to northern New Jersey

Sweeney told reporters Monday night such a bill was a possibility, and warned that the city can not keep coming to the state seeking financial help.

The Legislature is also about to move forward with a bill to authorize a referendum on expanding casinos to northern New Jersey. Under Christie’s plan, the facility would open next year.

A three-fifths legislative majority will be required by August in order to place the question on this November’s ballot.

Having seen a budget deficit of almost $100 million past year despite having less than 40,000 residents, the New Jersey Senate has introduced a bill that would expand New Jersey’s oversight of the iconic seaside gambling town, Atlantic City.

“In the end, you’re looking at a state that just shot itself in the foot”, he said.

“It shortens the time frame for those concerned that the Atlantic City casinos would not show interest, or would sit back on this”, said Sen.

The biggest announcement of Christie’s address came on the same issue that has been instrumental in reviving his presidential campaign, especially in New Hampshire: the drug epidemic.

“No one has been able to explain to me how successful North Jersey casinos will be when, not if, New York City gets gaming”, Whelan said. Christie’s in-state rivals have noted that while the economy has grown, the state still has fewer jobs than before the recession, and the state’s credit has been downgraded nine times on his watch.

His campaign is gaining steam in the first-to-vote primary state of New Hampshire, where voters go to the polls February 9.

His approval rating in New Jersey also has dipped to its lowest point since June and its second lowest since he became Governor. Christie suggested that to accomplish that goal, taxes would have to be raised by 3 billion dollars or spending cut by the same amount, affecting everything from hospitals and schools to law enforcement. Wendell Steinhauer, president of the New Jersey Education Association teachers union, said that New Jersey’s “best days are ahead of us” when Mr. Christie leaves office. The Senate voted 35-2 and the Assembly passed the proposal, 75-0.

“There’s no fight, no war”, Guardian said at a news conference.

The start of the new session means any bills not sent to Christie’s desk die and must be re-introduced. New Jersey and Maryland are the only states that levy estate and inheritance taxes. The measure is known as the PILOT bill for “payment in lieu of taxes”.

Atlantic City casinos continued their losing streak in 2015, despite improved contributions from their online gambling operations.

Christie said it will be the first major rate increase in more than a decade and comes after a review process that’s lasted several years.

Christie touted his accomplishments saying during his leadership private sector jobs grew, unemployment fell and home sales are up.

Local Democrats criticized Mr. Christie for giving what they described as a political speech. Assembly speaker Vincent Prieto agreed with Greenwald that the Governor was probably more concerned about a national audience. “So to all those who have chosen to reach out across the aisle – thank you, thank you for all you’ve done for our state”.