TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - The Latest on New Jersey’s government shutdown (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
Gov. Chris Christie says he’s using a state helicopter to travel to and from the governor’s residence at the state park where his family is staying amid a government shutdown.
Speaking Sunday at a news conference, Christie said he flew Saturday from Trenton to Island Beach State Park and then went back to the capital Sunday. The Republican governor plans to fly back to the park after working Sunday because that’s where his family is.
Christie says he’s ready to reopen the state government that shutdown after he and lawmakers in the Democratic-led Legislature failed to enact a budget Friday.
Christie said he would sign a Democratic-preferred budget as long as he gets the bill he wants to overhaul the state’s largest health insurer.
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12:30 a.m.
New Jersey’s government shutdown is dragging on without a resolution to the stalemate between Republican Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto.
And the state is beginning to feel the sting of shuttered services.
Christie ordered the Democrat-led Legislature to return Sunday to consider a path around the impasse
At issue is Christie’s proposal to overhaul the state’s largest health insurer. Democrats are splintered, with Prieto opposed to the plan, but Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney behind it.
Christie ordered the shutdown of nonessential state services, like parks and motor vehicle offices, Friday after he and lawmakers failed to agree on terms to enact a $34.7 billion budget.
The public is shut out of state parks and turned away from motor vehicle agencies. State workers have been furloughed.
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