State Shutdown Comes To An End As Christie, Prieto Reach Compromise, Reports Say

Gov. Christie and state legislators are expected to approve a budget compromise late tonight or early Tuesday morning that will end the services shutdown and reopen state parks, according to published reports.

The agreement will end three days of rancorous debate between Christie, and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and three agonizing days for Jersey Shore business owners, who lost money due to the closure of Island Beach State Park.

Christie further angered business owners and residents when he and his family spent three days at Island Beach at the governor's mansion while the park - known as the "Crown Jewel" of the state park system - was closed to the public.

Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Senate President Stephen Sweeney both called for a joint news conference to discuss the deal ahead of possible votes. They met today with executives from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, the state's largest insurance company whose fate is central to the budget standoff that prompted the state shutdown, according to app.com.

"At the end of the day we have one hell of a budget we can be proud of," Sweeney said.

He apologized for the disruption in state services.

"We wish we didn't have to do this but it was part of getting a deal done," he said.

Christie earlier today tweeted an invitation for residents to visit New Jersey's municipal beaches.

Christie said late tonight he would sign the budget, but was "saddened" it was three days late.

He said at a press conference late last night he had made a commitment to his family before the shutdown they would spend the holiday weekend at Island Beach.

"I simply wasn't going to cancel," he said. "That's our residence. We have a right to be there when we want to be."

PHOTO: Patch file photo of Gov. Christie