News from

John Amodeo and Vince Polistina

New Jersey General Assembly, District 2

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE           

Contact:  John Amodeo or Vince Polistina at 609-677-8266

April 21, 2009 

 

CORZINE FURLOUGHING CASINO CONTROL COMMISSION WORKERS ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND THE INDUSTRY

MANDATED UNPAID LEAVE WILL NOT RESULT IN SAVINGS

 

 

NORTHFIELD - Despite the fact that the state will not derive any savings from imposing its planned two-day furlough on employees of the Division of Gaming Enforcement and the Casino Control Commission, Governor Jon Corzine intends to follow through with the unpaid time off for these workers.  Salaries paid to the impacted employees are paid by the casino industry, not the taxpayers.

            “This decision is another example of how the governor just does not understand how the casino industry works,” stated John Amodeo, R-Atlantic.  “The stance that furloughs must be imposed across the board even though no savings will be realized is difficult to justify.”

            A report in today’s Press of Atlantic City detailed that over 500 employees will be affected by the furloughs in May and June.  A spokesman for the Casino Control Commission commented that the industry’s workers were being treated the same as other state employees.  However, the casinos will be the beneficiary from the unpaid leave, not the state.

            “You would think that there would be some measure of practicality in addressing how to achieve real not symbolic savings in the state budget,” stated Vincent Polistina, R-Atlantic.  “Sadly, it’s this way of thinking that created the state’s fiscal mess and jeopardizes further economic development in our region.

            “The administration’s lack of understanding of the casino industry and the nature of the CCC and DGE employees has been costly to our county and the state,” continued Polistina.  “The fact that taxpayers do not pay their salaries should be enough to, one, declare them essential employees so the casinos will never have to shut down again because of a budget crisis and, two, leave them out of this charade to make it look like the governor is saving us money when he is not.   ”

 

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