TRENTON – Hopeful words of “I think we may be able to…” seemed misplaced, premature and utterly disjointed from reality at 9:30 p.m., two and a half hours from a government shutdown if state lawmakers fail to reach an agreement on the 2018 State Budget.

Democratic lawmakers cleared the chamber, retreating behind closed doors to assess the situation and InsiderNJ asked Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-21) if a deal was at hand.

“No,” said Bramnick.