We have a budget

and are re-opening for business. Corzine signed the exec order at 6AM this morning to end the shutdown. Casinos were open by 7AM; lottery ticket sales re-start this morning; state parks should open tomorrow; Motor Vehicle agencies open on Monday.

njdem has a fine wrap-up of the end of the process over at BlueJersey (where this weekend's Op-Ed is from the ACLU-NJ.) I have to give njdem credit- I tried to watch the Assembly procedings last night, but after a full work/parenting day sitting down to listen to so much talk about the Urban Enterprize Zone purchasing, tobacco product taxing, budget bull procedures and the like, I had a hard time keeping my focus. Give your legislators credit, folks- hammering out a budget is a very difficult process, with each little detail important to some group of constituents, and they have to keep it all straight.

Somewhat aside, I thought this was cool: from PoliticsNJ:

Respectfully, PoliticsNJ.com declines to post spin on the budget deal, and refers you to our PRESS RELEASE page. Watch for our Special Budget '06 Winners & Losers once this website figures it all out. (07/06/06)

Good for you.