It's only February. But already, House Speaker William J. Murphy is predicting an unusually long legislative session.

"I'm not going to be popular by saying this, but I do not seeing the Assembly getting out by July 1 this year," the speaker said after an economic stimulus press conference Thursday afternoon. "I think this is going to be a year of protraction where there's going to be many long nights in this building."

The part-time legislature traditionally recesses for the year by the end of June. But Murphy said there's too much uncertainty this year to predict a traditional departure date.

Specifically, he cited Governor Carcieri's late submission of next year's state budget in explaining his feelings.

"By statute it's the third Thursday in January when we're supposed to get the budget," Murphy said. "The governor has now said he'd be ready on March 10."