TRENTON – The fact that state Senator Joe Vitale (D-19) introduced his Horizon bill so late – too late for second and third readings – would require an emergency procedure on the floor to overrule Speaker Vincent Prieto’s (D-32) sworn oath to block the bill.

That emergency requires 60 votes – out of the grasp of the head-counted supporters of the bill, the core of which belong to a South Jersey-Middlesex-Essex County Democratic Party alliance.

Within the context of Prieto’s blockade, a longstanding leadership collision, and a split caucus that makes it difficult now to pass the state budget before the deadline at the end of the week and the increased likelihood of a government shutdown, one source proffered a simple question: is there a parliamentarian in the house?

Because of the required 60 votes for an emergency procedure on the floor of the assembly (by itself a rule that can be challenged and argued and, sources say, suspended by 41 votes but which remains a contentious point), Prieto’s rivals may have an easier chance of getting to 41 votes for an ouster of the speaker – especially if Republicans under the leadership of Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-21) activate on behalf of Chris Christie.

If a deadlock today sparks an insurrection against the sitting speaker, and someone – Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-6), let’s say, for argument’s sake, because he is a known Prieto antagonist – puts forward a motion for a vote to remove the speaker, can Prieto as speaker gavel down the attempt at a second? And if he does, and shuts down the lights on the assembly, can someone else overrule him?

That’s an entertained question as the legislature looks ahead to a balkanized day.

One source told InsiderNJ that he would be shocked if it gets to that point, and said the discussions behind the scenes have not prioritized a removal of Prieto, which speeds the likelihood of a government shutdown.

“It would be unprecedented,” the source said of a speaker takedown in these circumstances. “What will happen is the speaker will be afforded an opportunity to walk back his no Horizon bill statements by being given a wide latitude. The senator’s bill is not perfect, but until the speaker is prepared to have that conversation, we will be sitting around for a while.”