A partial shutdown of New Jersey government services snarled traffic near the state's Atlantic shore resorts on Saturday, the first day of the July 4 holiday weekend, as troopers turned back beachgoers from a shuttered beach and other state parks.

The shutdown went into effect just after midnight on Saturday after legislators failed to pass a budget, stymied by a dispute over a plan to take money from the state’s biggest health insurance company.

Lawmakers were in the state capital, Trenton, on Saturday to work on resolving the standoff over the measure, pushed by Governor Chris Christie as way to help fund drug addiction services.

Despite the shutdown, state police, prisons, child welfare services, NJ Transit buses and trains, and other health and safety operations were still functioning, but other services such as motor vehicle inspections ground to a halt.

Christie, a Republican who has the lowest approval rating of any governor in New Jersey history, said he returned to his office at 9:30 a.m. ready to work. His family was at the governor’s residence at the state beach that had been closed to the public as a result of the shutdown.

At issue is a push by the governor to force the nonprofit insurer Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield to spend some of its billions in reserves on public health services or return money to subscribers.

Christie said he would remove about $150 million in school funding and other items previously agreed with Democrats unless the Assembly passed the Horizon bill.

But Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and other Democrats say the Horizon bill, introduced only on Thursday, is “bad public policy.” Prieto blamed the governor for “holding the state budget hostage.”

Some Democrats in the Senate and Assembly have sided with Christie. An Assembly vote on the budget stalled late on Friday, as some Democrats abstained from voting, fearing Christie’s veto of important items without an agreement on the Horizon bill.

The governor, at a news conference on Saturday morning, repeatedly blamed Prieto for the impasse.

“If the Horizon bill comes in, I will sign the budget,” he said, adding that he was open to counteroffers. Christie said the plan to restructure Horizon was only recently presented because it had not occurred to him earlier. It has been vetted by legal advisors, he said, adding, “It’s about transparency and accountability ... and the potential for a fiscal play down the line.”

All 80 of the Assembly's seats are up for re-election in November, when New Jersey will also vote on a new governor to replace Christie, whose second and final term as governor is ending.

The new governor will inherit a gaping public pension shortfall, which has contributed to 11 credit downgrades during Christie's tenure. New Jersey's credit rating is now the second lowest in the United States, above only Illinois. (Editing by Frank McGurty and Jonathan Oatis)</s>JERSEY CITY -- A steady stream of joggers, cyclists and cars were turned away from Liberty State park this morning because of a government shutdown from the state budget stalemate last night. Gov. Chris Christie at midnight on Friday ordered a government shutdown after the state Legislature failed to pass a budget by the midnight deadline last night.

Start the conversation, or Read more at The Jersey Journal.</s>TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie said he flew on a state helicopter and plans to fly back again Sunday to a shuttered state park where his family is staying at the state-owned governor’s residence there amid a government shutdown that showed little sign of ending.

Christie said Sunday at a news conference in Trenton where he worked without result to end the shutdown that he flew on a state chopper to the residence at Island Beach State Park on Saturday and plans to fly back there on Sunday.

“That’s where my family is sleeping so that’s where I’ll sleep,” he said. “When I have a choice between sleeping with my family or sleeping alone, I generally like to sleep where my family is.”

Christie defended his use of the state property during the shutdown that affected the public, which is being kept out of state parks with signs blaming Democratic Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, on Saturday, saying: “That’s the way it goes. Run for governor and you can have the residence.”

Christie also said Sunday that he’s “frustrated” by the shutdown and is open to making a deal to re-open government.

Few lawmakers were around the statehouse Sunday, and Christie said that unless he sent state police to retrieve them he could not force them to be there.

Christie, for the second time, referred to himself as “Mr. Reasonable” and said he would consider either the Democratic budget along with legislation to overhaul the state’s biggest health insurer, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. Or without the Horizon legislation he has called for, he would line-item veto about $350 million of the Democratic priorities.

“It should end today. Send me a budget,” he said. “I’m ready to work but I can’t work if I don’t have any money. These guys have to get their act together.”

Also on Sunday, Democratic Senate President Steve, who’s allied with Christie, called for a meeting with lawmakers and Horizon’s CEO to try to hash out a way forward.

Horizon said in a statement that CEO Bob Marino would attend. Horizon opposes Christie and Sweeney’s proposal.

Christie also said he would order the Legislature to return Monday after ordering it to do so Saturday and Sunday as well.

Democrats are splintered over the impasse, with Prieto opposed to the plan and Sweeney in favor.

The term-limited, unpopular governor blames the shutdown on Prieto, who continues to hold open a vote on the Assembly floor on the $34.7 billion budget that remains deadlocked with 27 yes votes, shy of the 41 needed to succeed.

Democrats who are abstaining say they worry about Christie line-item vetoing education funding from the budget.

Christie ordered the shutdown of nonessential state services, like parks and motor vehicle offices, on Friday after he and lawmakers failed to agree on terms.

Christie had demanded that lawmakers pass Senate-approved legislation to make over Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, but on Sunday said he’d re-open the government under either scenario.

Over the weekend, the public began feeling the effects of the shutdown.

Among those affected were a group of Cub Scouts forced to leave a state park campsite and people trying to obtain or renew documents from the state motor vehicle commission.

Remaining open under the shutdown are New Jersey Transit, state prisons, the state police, state hospitals and treatment centers as well as casinos, race tracks and the lottery.

Liberty State Park was closed, forcing the suspension of ticket sales and ferry service from the site to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. But the latter two sites remain open.

The Senate legislation that Christie backs requires the company to publish financial information and elect public board members. It gives the state insurance commissioner the ability to set a range for the company’s surplus, which the company must use to benefit policy holders and the public if the limit is exceeded. That final change would not take effect until after Christie leaves office.

The legislation is a change from what Christie initially sought, which was to tap into the insurer’s $2.4 billion surplus to finance opioid addiction treatment.

But Prieto says he’s concerned about tweaking the state’s biggest insurer, which is a nonprofit that has four board members appointed by the governor, at a time when congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump are contemplating overhauling the Affordable Care Act.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page

 Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter</s>New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) spent part of the weekend lounging on a state beach he ordered closed to the public amid a local government shutdown, photos show.

Christie spent Saturday night and part of Sunday at New Jersey’s Island Beach State Park with family and friends at a summer beach house owned by the government. The park was among those closed over the holiday weekend during the ongoing statewide government shutdown after lawmakers were unable to pass a new budget.

The governor’s family, however, were apparently excluded from the visitation ban and aerial photos obtained by NJ Advance Media show a group of people, including Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, alone on an empty beach.

“I don’t know if it’s fair, but ... my family doesn’t ask for any services while we are there,” Christie told reporters at a news conference ahead of his visit, saying he had no plans to cancel the trip.

He later added: “Run for governor, and you can have a residence there.”

Other outlets have noted the ban has been strictly enforced. NBC reports a local Cub Scout pack of about 25 kids was kicked out of Cheesequake State Park over the weekend by authorities.

NJ.com reports Christie told reporters on Sunday he didn’t “get any sun” during his visit. But when his team was informed of the photos, his spokesman clarified the governor was on the beach, but didn’t get any sun because “he had a baseball hat on.”</s>New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he will convene both houses of the Legislature on Monday morning in an attempt to break a budget deadlock.

The Republican governor shut down the state government Friday night after the Legislature failed to pass a budget. The assembly remained nominally in session after lawmakers went home Saturday.

An estimated 30,000 to 35,000 state workers were furloughed in the shutdown. The shutdown forced the closure of tourist attractions such as all 40 state parks, recreational areas, historic sites, state beaches and Liberty State Park just as the July Fourth holiday weekend got underway. Campers who stayed in parks Friday night were asked to leave Saturday morning, Christie said. Public events in parks were canceled.

Consequently, Christie and his family had the beach to themselves Saturday night at the governor's Island Beach residence.

Christie signed a state of emergency permitting the operation of essential government services such as state police, correctional facilities, welfare services, state hospitals and treatment facilities. Also shielded from the shutdown are New Jersey Transit, the state lottery, casinos and racetracks.

According to nj.com, the conflict in the Legislature is about the finances of not-for-profit Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the state's largest health insurer.

The state Senate passed a bill that allows the state government to control how much Horizon keeps in its surplus fund before it must contribute to a public health fund. But Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, a Democrat, refused to allow the bill to come to a vote in the House, nj.com said.

The governor told reporters Saturday that the state will do what it must to function, either via federal funding or by running up a tab. He cited state police as an essential service. He said Horizon is making huge profits without any control by state government, which created Horizon in the first place, and it doesn't want additional oversight or transparency.

On Sunday, Christie blamed Prieto for the standoff and said he would sign whatever budget crosses his desk.

"If they send it to me with Horizon, I will sign it. If they send it to me without Horizon I will use my authority to make a smaller budget," he said in an afternoon news conference.

"If they send me a budget today the shutdown would be over. The Legislature is deciding not to send me either budget."

Prieto said discussions about changing Horizon were not part of the budget process and that Christie was trying to "extort" Horizon's ratepayers.

"I will consider it once a budget is signed. In fact, the Assembly Judiciary Committee stands ready to hold hearings starting this month," Prieto said.

Christie said no more services are expected to be eliminated.</s>Chris Christie’s beach vacation has become a point of controversy and heated debate. According to reports, the New Jersey Governor and his family spent the Fourth of July weekend at a state park — which he closed to the public just hours before his vacation began.

On Friday, Christie signed an executive order to shut down the New Jersey government for the first time in 11 years. As reported by The Hill, the shutdown was prompted by ongoing budget disputes between Democratic and Republican legislative leaders.

According to state law, New Jersey’s budget must be agreed upon on or before the new fiscal year begins on June 30. However, Democratic and Republican lawmakers are at a stalemate.

One of the most prominent disagreements involves a provision — which would compel Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield to fund a drug addiction treatment program. The provision, which was proposed by Governor Christie, is expected to ease the state’s opioid addiction crisis. However, critics argue that Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield would be forced to increase premiums for an estimated “3.8 million policyholders” to fund the program.

On Saturday, Christie announced the government shutdown was “necessary to maintain the protection, safety, and well-being of the people of New Jersey.” The governor specifically blamed Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto for unnecessarily stalling budget negotiations and “forcing the closure of New Jersey government and inconveniencing everyone living in and visiting our state.”

In addition to state government offices, Governor Christie ordered beaches and state parks closed until the budget issue is resolved.

Although the closures forced thousands of tourists to cancel their plans for the holiday weekend, Chris Christie’s beach vacation proceeded as planned. As reported by New York Daily News, the governor and his family spent the weekend at New Jersey’s Island Beach State Park — while other families were turned away at the gates.

When questioned about his family’s exclusive access to the state park and beach, Chris Christie said, “That’s just the way it goes.” Although the governor and his family stayed at their residence at the state park, Christie insists they did not use any of the services customarily provided by the park.</s>TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie said he flew on a state helicopter and plans to fly back again Sunday to a shuttered state park where his family is staying at the state-owned governor’s residence there amid a government shutdown that showed little sign of ending.

Christie said Sunday at a news conference in Trenton where he worked without result to end the shutdown that he flew on a state chopper to the residence at Island Beach State Park on Saturday and plans to fly back there on Sunday.

“That’s where my family is sleeping so that’s where I’ll sleep,” he said. “When I have a choice between sleeping with my family or sleeping alone, I generally like to sleep where my family is.”

Christie defended his use of the state property during the shutdown that affected the public, which is being kept out of state parks with signs blaming Democratic Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, on Saturday, saying: “That’s the way it goes. Run for governor and you can have the residence.”

Christie also said Sunday that he’s “frustrated” by the shutdown and is open to making a deal to re-open government.

Few lawmakers were around the statehouse Sunday, and Christie said that unless he sent state police to retrieve them he could not force them to be there.

Christie, for the second time, referred to himself as “Mr. Reasonable” and said he would consider either the Democratic budget along with legislation to overhaul the state’s biggest health insurer, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. Or without the Horizon legislation he has called for, he would line-item veto about $350 million of the Democratic priorities.

“It should end today. Send me a budget,” he said. “I’m ready to work but I can’t work if I don’t have any money. These guys have to get their act together.”

Also on Sunday, Democratic Senate President Steve, who’s allied with Christie, called for a meeting with lawmakers and Horizon’s CEO to try to hash out a way forward.

Horizon said in a statement that CEO Bob Marino would attend. Horizon opposes Christie and Sweeney’s proposal.

Christie also said he would order the Legislature to return Monday after ordering it to do so Saturday and Sunday as well.

Democrats are splintered over the impasse, with Prieto opposed to the plan and Sweeney in favor.

The term-limited, unpopular governor blames the shutdown on Prieto, who continues to hold open a vote on the Assembly floor on the $34.7 billion budget that remains deadlocked with 27 yes votes, shy of the 41 needed to succeed.

Democrats who are abstaining say they worry about Christie line-item vetoing education funding from the budget.

Christie ordered the shutdown of nonessential state services, like parks and motor vehicle offices, on Friday after he and lawmakers failed to agree on terms.

Christie had demanded that lawmakers pass Senate-approved legislation to make over Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, but on Sunday said he’d re-open the government under either scenario.

Over the weekend, the public began feeling the effects of the shutdown.

Among those affected were a group of Cub Scouts forced to leave a state park campsite and people trying to obtain or renew documents from the state motor vehicle commission.

Remaining open under the shutdown are New Jersey Transit, state prisons, the state police, state hospitals and treatment centers as well as casinos, race tracks and the lottery.

Liberty State Park was closed, forcing the suspension of ticket sales and ferry service from the site to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. But the latter two sites remain open.

The Senate legislation that Christie backs requires the company to publish financial information and elect public board members. It gives the state insurance commissioner the ability to set a range for the company’s surplus, which the company must use to benefit policy holders and the public if the limit is exceeded. That final change would not take effect until after Christie leaves office.

The legislation is a change from what Christie initially sought, which was to tap into the insurer’s $2.4 billion surplus to finance opioid addiction treatment.

But Prieto says he’s concerned about tweaking the state’s biggest insurer, which is a nonprofit that has four board members appointed by the governor, at a time when congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump are contemplating overhauling the Affordable Care Act.</s>The Latest on New Jersey's government shutdown (all times local):

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.

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.</s>Story highlights Chris Christie has beach to himself after shutdown closes state parks

Christie says he will pass whatever budget comes his way

(CNN) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his family had the beach to themselves Saturday after a budget deadlock closed state-run tourist attractions to the public.

The Republican governor shut down the state government Friday night after the Legislature failed to pass a budget. Christie said he will convene both houses of the Legislature on Monday morning in an attempt to break the impasse.

The shutdown forced the closure of tourist attractions and furloughed an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 state workers. All 40 state parks, recreational areas, historic sites, state beaches and Liberty State Park were closed just as the July Fourth holiday weekend got underway. Campers who stayed in parks Friday night were asked to leave Saturday morning, Christie said.

Meanwhile, Christie and his family had full run of Island Beach State Park, a barrier island where the state-owned governor's residence is located.

"That's just the way it goes," Christie said Saturday in response to a reporter's questions during a news conference. "Run for governor and you can have a residence."

Read More</s>(CNN) — New Jersey legislators went home Saturday afternoon without passing a budget, leaving the state government shut down, the spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie told CNN.

The Republican governor shut down the state government Friday night after the Legislature failed to pass a budget. The assembly remained nominally in session in an attempt to break the deadlock.

An estimated 30,000 to 35,000 state workers were furloughed in the shutdown. The shutdown forced the closure of tourist attractions such as all 40 state parks, recreational areas, historic sites, state beaches and Liberty State Park just as the July Fourth holiday weekend got underway. Campers who stayed in parks Friday night were asked to leave Saturday morning, Christie said. Public events in parks were canceled.

Consequently, Christie and his family had the beach to themselves Saturday night at the governor’s Island Beach residence.

Christie signed a state of emergency permitting the operation of essential government services such as state police, correctional facilities, welfare services, state hospitals and treatment facilities. Also shielded from the shutdown are New Jersey Transit, the state lottery, casinos and racetracks.

According to nj.com, the conflict in the Legislature is about the finances of not-for-profit Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the state’s largest health insurer.

The state Senate passed a bill that allows the state government to control how much Horizon keeps in its surplus fund before it must contribute to a public health fund. But Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, a Democrat, refused to allow the bill to come to a vote in the House, nj.com said.

The governor told reporters Saturday that the state will do what it must to function, either via federal funding or by running up a tab. He cited state police as an essential service. He said Horizon is making huge profits without any control by state government, which created Horizon in the first place, and it doesn’t want additional oversight or transparency.

On Sunday, Christie blamed Prieto for the standoff and said he would sign whatever budget crosses his desk.

“If they send it to me with Horizon, I will sign it. If they send it to me without Horizon I will use my authority to make a smaller budget,” he said in an afternoon news conference.

“If they send me a budget today the shutdown would be over. The Legislature is deciding not to send me either budget.”

Prieto said discussions about changing Horizon were not part of the budget process and that Christie was trying to “extort” Horizon’s ratepayers.

“I will consider it once a budget is signed. In fact, the Assembly Judiciary Committee stands ready to hold hearings starting this month,” Prieto said.

Christie said no more services are expected to be eliminated.
Amid a budget crisis, Governor Chris Christie shuts down the state government of New Jersey.