Deal was made in a one-on-one meeting between Christie, Senate President Stephen Sweeney
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney.TRENTON — Faced with the likelihood that Senate Democrats would subpoena his records and compel his advisers to testify, Gov. Chris Christie today agreed to turn over documents related to the state's recent loss of $400 million in federal education funding, according to four officials briefed on the situation.
Senate Democrats walked into the Statehouse today planning to grant themselves the power to supboena records and testimony from the administration. But with a Senate session delayed long past its 1 p.m. scheduled start, the hallways began buzzing with word that a deal had been struck. The deal was made in a one-on-one meeting between Christie and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), according to the sources.
With the compromise, Christie would be able to avert the spectacle of all-out partisan warfare and the possibility he would have to go to court to fight to keep some information secret. The Democrats, at the same time, would be able to declare another victory in what has become a tough political time for the rookie governor who had been steamrolling the opposition until the news last month that the state lost the Race to the Top competition because of an error in its application. The error led to a squabble between Christie and his education commissioner, Bret Schundler, who was then fired by the governor.
By Josh Margolin and Matt Friedman/Statehouse Bureau
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Senate Democrats to compel Race to the Top officials to testify about error
• N.J. Senate Democrats plan to subpoena Race to the Top officials
• Fired N.J. education chief Bret Schundler says he made 'Race to the Top' error
• Future of N.J. school reform remains uncertain without federal funds, permanent education chief
• Error on 'Race to the Top' application costs N.J. $400M in federal funds
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