Trenton, N.J. ? Nearly a week after New Jersey government stopped fully functioning, lawmakers early today edged toward voting on a budget that would kick-start state spending and allow Atlantic City casinos to reopen.

Legislative committees were considering measures Friday that would clear the way for voting on a new state budget later in the night. Some bills had passed committees by midnight, but full votes seemed hours away.

Gov. Jon Corzine would have to sign an executive order to formally end the shutdown, which forced gambling operations to close Wednesday for the first time in the 28-year history of legal gambling in New Jersey.