Budget Impasse Shuts Down NJ Government, Closes Parks on Holiday Weekend

A budget impasse between the New Jersey Legislature and Governor Chris Christie led to the state’s government shutting down on Saturday, July 1, leading to closure of several of the state’s most popular recreation areas on the 4th of July weekend.The state’s $38 million budget had to be signed by midnight Saturday, and when the governor didn’t pull out his pen, many of the state’s non-essential services had to shut down. The fight between Christie and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto stems from a plan to overhaul control of the state’s largest health insurer, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, a non-profit that operates under special state laws, NorthJersey.com reported.Many New Jersey residents were angered by the shutdown and by the actions of Christie, an unpopular governor in his last term in office. A list of New Jersey beaches and parks closed today and likely through the holiday can be found here.Maine and Illinois faced similar fiscal shutdown situations. Credit: GovChristie via Storyful