Gov. Christie’s predictions on casinos ballot question

The governor declared that November’s ballot question to allow two casinos in northern New Jersey will lose unless lawmakers approve a state takeover plan of Atlantic City.

US.- Yesterday (Thursday) Gov. Chris Christie predicted during a conference that a ballot question to expand gambling to northern New Jersey will be defeated unless lawmakers approve a state takeover plan of Atlantic City. He also said that both, the state takeover and a bill to allow alternative tax payments for casinos are the only solutions to save the city from financial collapse.

The Republican governor affirms he has a bipartisan agreement with Senate President Steve Sweeney regarding bills to take over the Atlantic City’s finances and allow its casinos to make payments in lieu of taxes.

However, he is facing opposition as Assemblyman Vincent Prieto won’t put the measure up for votes in the Assembly unless Christie drops a provision letting the state cancel public employee union contracts.

Gov. Christie also declared that Atlantic City’s plan to change its payroll period to keep city government from shutting down will do nothing but putting off the day of reckoning. In addition, he said that the city hasn’t made hard decisions needed to address the problem.