Under the deal struck last week between the governor and legislative leadership, the state would bond up to $2.7 billion through September – the end of the three-month extension of the current budget – and another $7.2 billion between Oct. 1 and the end of June 2021.

Republicans have promised to challenge the proposal in court – which could drag the process on for months – arguing that it’s unconstitutional.

The July 16 numbers are the state's highest-ever unemployment rate since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began compiling that data in 1976.

U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti said he would allow a lawsuit brought by some of the nation's largest cinema chains to go forward, but not until Aug. 4, calling attention to the fact that states where such establishments were allowed to reopen have since begun to re-institute closures in the wake of COVID-19 resurgences.

Despite touting the power to "go after" non-compliant players, the administration is instead "focusing on personal accountability at this time," state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said.

“Bear with us on that," the governor said at his COVID-19 press briefing, a day ahead of the state Legislature's vote on the measure.

The move comes days after Murphy and top lawmakers struck a deal on the scheme following a weeks-long stalemate between the governor and the Senate President.

While the list has grown, Gov. Phil Murphy has not budged on his stance “begging for people’s personal responsibility" with the action, in contrast to New York's recently announced $2,000 fine for non-compliance.

Just days before the practice was set to resume in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that the restart would be put on hold indefinitely – leaving restaurateurs with losses due to ordered food, rehired employees, and preparing establishments to adhere to strict guidelines.

A snapshot of which New Jersey businesses received loans under the federal aid program.

"[W]ith the explosion in the other states, as the reagents and other raw materials, that’s become a scarce resource – it has slowed the turnaround time down,” the governor said, as labs are pushed to their limits. “That’s a national reality.”

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