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Gov. Chris Christie lands, via New Jersey State Police helicopter, in Trenton on day three of the government shutdown. Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com

Senate President Stephen Sweeney said even if an agreement on Horizon was reached Monday, the shutdown would continue into Tuesday and possibly later. Monday July 3, 2017.(Photo: Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com)

As Gov. Chris Christie facednational derisionMonday forlounging on a state beach closed to the public amid agovernment shutdownhe ordered, the Democratic lawmakerat the center of a standoff over the state budget hinted that a compromise may be in the works.

Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, D-Secaucus, emerged from a meeting withSenate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, andthe chief executive of the state's largest health insureron Monday afternoon to tell reporters that"we're making progress" on rewriting a bill that is a root cause of the budget impasse.

Lawmakers from both houses of the Legislature said they were put on notice that they might be askedto travel to Trenton late Monday night for a vote on the budget and possibly on legislation to overhaul how the state regulates Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. If enough lawmakers can be corralled to holda vote and the vote is successful, that would end the shutdown and re-open state beaches and parksin time for the Fourth of July.

"I'm hoping that there's an agreement that everyone will sign off on so we can start the process of getting it all done tonight," Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, said.

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An agreement could offera dose of positive news for the governor to counter the widespread negativity against him aftera photographer for the Star-Ledger captured Christie and his family on Sunday relaxing on Island Beach State Park, which is closed to the public because of the shutdown ordered by Christie.

Although Christie made it clear to reporters that he was staying at the beach and rubbed it in by saying critics should run for governor to get access to the state-owned residence the image spread across the country and beyond.

When Christie closed government he also sought to pin the blame on Prieto, the Assembly speaker, by plastering his face on Island Beach and other shuttered state facilities. But once the photo of Christie was published it was the governor, not Prieto, who became the face of the state's shutdown.

Christie, who polls say is historically unpopular and who had met with reporters the previous four days, did not make a public appearance on Monday after once again traveling to Trenton in a taxpayer-funded state police helicopter. In a rare move, aspokesman for Christie instead went on national television to defend the governor.

It didn't appear to calm the outrage from the public or tamp down the mockery of the governor on social media. Even his lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, who is running to succeed him, condemned his use of the governor's beachside residence as "beyond words" and added a campaign stop near Island Beach State Park to "discuss the negative impact the state government shutdown is having on the economy."

The meeting between Prieto, Sweeney and theCEO of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Bob Marino, was meant to explore whether accord is possible on a bill that would restructure Horizon, the states largest insurer, and require the company to dedicate excess surplus to policyholders and public health programs.

Assembly President, Vincent Prieto and Horizon CEO Robert Marino (background) are shown in the New Jersey State House, just before joining Senate President, Stephen Sweeney (not shown) and others in a meeting about the budget, Monday July 3, 2017.(Photo: Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com)

Christie has conditioned his support for Democrats spending priorities in their $34.7 billion budget proposal on the Legislatures passage of a bill to change how the state regulates Horizon.

Prieto has dug in against any such bill, prompting other Democrats to hold off on voting for a fiscal year 2018 budget for fear that Christie would slash funding for the programs they requested. Without a budget authorizing state spending, non-essential state government services and functions shut down at midnight on Saturday.

Prieto said Monday afternoon that he had instructed his staff to start drafting new legislation related to Horizon. But significantly,he declined to answer whether he would post a Horizon bill for a vote before a budget was passed something he has said for days he would not do but which could break the deadlock.

Another lawmaker in Monday's meeting, Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, gave an equivocal review of the conference.

"I wouldn't say we're any closer, he said. We're not farther apart.

Senator Joseph Vitale speaks to the press after meeting with Senate President Sweeney, Assembly President Prieto and Horizon CEO Marino. Vitale said some progress had been made Monday afternoon, July 3, 2017.(Photo: Kevin R. Wexler/NorthJersey.com)

Marino also briefly addressed reporters after what he called a very productive meeting with lawmakers. He, too,offered few specifics about what was discussed or whether a compromise was in the works.

I think you all realize that Horizon didnt ask to be in the middle of this situation but I do appreciate the opportunity to have met with them and expressed my concerns with the bill, he said. I think there were a lot of open minds in that room and well see where we go from here.

Email: pugliese@northjersey.com and racioppi@northjersey.com

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As Christie is mocked for beach photos, Democrats move toward shutdown deal - NorthJersey.com