Chris, you son of beach

Gov hits surf despite shutdown

NEW JERSEY hits day three of its government shutdown Monday over a budget stalemate that has closed state parks — and will likely force the furlough of 35,000 workers.

On Sunday, the impasse even inconvenienced Gov. Chris Christie, forcing him to leave a state beach that was off-limits to the public — but open to his family — because he had to return to Trenton.

All nonessential services remained shutdown as the Republican governor and the Democratic Assembly speaker continued to disagree over Christie’s plan for a nonprofit health system that is at the center of the budget dispute.

As a result, 40 parks, including Island Beach State Park and Liberty State Park, were closed just as the long Fourth of July weekend got underway.

Public events in parks were canceled, too, and campers who pitched tents in parks Friday night were asked to leave Saturday morning.

Fortunately for them, that didn’t stop the governor and his family from catching rays at Island Beach State Park, even as police turned lines of cars away. Christie unabashedly defended his family’s use of the beach as thousands were banished.

“The governor has a residence at Island Beach. Others don’t. That’s just the way it goes,” Christie defiantly told reporters from Trenton on Saturday. “Run for governor and you can have the residence.”

Christie said his family’s presence did not require state services, according to NJ.com. That was after a state helicopter ferried the governor between the scenic shore getaway and the gridlocked state capital, where he and lawmakers gained about as much ground as drivers did during the Bridgegate scandal.

At issue is Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, a nonprofit insurer the state created. Christie supports legislation tied to the budget that would add more oversight to Horizon and seize reserves to fund public health causes.

The governor said he would sign the state’s $34.7 billion budget, including $350 million in Democratic spending priorities, if lawmakers send him the bill to restructure Horizon.

Christie has called for a special session of the New Jersey Legislature to begin at 10 a.m. Maine’s government is also shutdown over

budget issues.

Sign says New Jersey’s Liberty State Park is closed due to a government shutdown. Meanwhile, Gov. Chris Christie (below) and his family enjoyed stay at Island Beach State Park, anyway.