TRENTON – Rank agony set in on the faces of those trudging sagging shouldered dog soldiers otherwise known as the New Jersey Legislature and those attendant underlings roaming the hallways in search of time killers and processed food filler along with media types increasingly low on fodder.

If this had all along been a high stakes bicameral ballgame, the fights that defined the early portion of the brawl had turned to low grade ping pong between Sweeney’s and Prieto’s offices.

First there was Sweeney.

Then there was Prieto.

Then there was Marino.

Now it was Marino and Sweeney.

Now it was Marino and Prieto.

Process had overtaken drama. Process had drained the marrow out of the zesty fun that had defined the early part of this statewide horror.

It was nearly over.

“What am I doing here?” a voice boomed in the statehouse basement, in jest.

State Senator Ray Lesniak (D-20) rounded the corner and came face to face with Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-14).

“I haven’t gotten a call,” DeAngelo told InsiderNJ when asked if he had yet received the bat signal to come back to the frozen budget board. “I was at a union meeting.”

Just circulating.

Now Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin appeared.

Assemblyman Paul Moriarty alighted.

They began being seen again.

But it was very slow. Process punctuated a snow on the TV screen evening.

“We’re there,” announced state Senator Joe Vitale (D-19).

Then this…

Advisory: Senate President Sweeney and Speaker Prieto to Announce Budget Deal

TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto will hold a news conference today to discuss a resolution on the FY18 State Budget.

The news conference will be held at 10PM in Room 103 of the Statehouse, Trenton, New Jersey.

And it’s over: Sweeney and Prieto promptly announced a deal that Governor Christie will back.