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New Jersey Reopens Casinos Following Budget Approval

Governor Jon Corzine has issued an executive order early Saturday that will lift the weeklong government shutdown that hurt Atlantic City's casino establishments, its workers and the smaller businesses that depend on them.

The governor acted quickly following the approval of a $30.9 billion state budget that increased the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent, ending the state's budget impasse that was the cause of the government shutdown.

The Senate voted 23-17 to approve the budget at 4:20 a.m. followed by the Assembly at 5:40 a.m., by a 44-35 vote.

"I now feel comfortable we can begin the orderly restoring of the business of government," Corzine said.

The casino shutdown, the first in the 28-year history of legal gambling trade in New Jersey, occurred because the gambling halls require state-appointed gaming inspectors in order for them to operate. The shutdown forced them to withdraw from their posts.

The 12 casinos finally got the permission to resume operations. By Monday, 45,000 of the temporarily laid-off state workers could return to work.

Lottery sales, which was also affected by the shutdown resumed Saturday morning. Racetracks were also set to reopen later in the day. State parks are scheduled to reopen Sunday. All state services are expected to be back to normal by Monday.