The meltdown in Trenton cover the education grant loss continues | mycentraljersey.com | MyCentralJersey.com

The meltdown in Trenton cover the education grant loss continues | mycentraljersey.com | MyCentralJersey.com

The meltdown in Trenton cover the education grant loss continues

BY MICHAEL SYMONS • STATEHOUSE BUREAU • SEPTEMBER 4, 2010

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TRENTON — Four hundred million dollars in education reform funds up in smoke. One Cabinet member fired, then called a liar, leading him to release a meticulous chronology defending his part in the events that precipitated his dismissal.

The week-plus episode sparked by New Jersey's near-miss and unfortunate flub in the Race to the Top competition would have been remarkable political theater in any case, but it was particularly fascinating to observers this year because it marked the first significant missteps of Gov. Chris Christie's first year in office.

While the event created a political opening for Democrats, who hope to keep the story going in hearings that begin Tuesday, political analysts said the short-term headache doesn't appear likely to be a long-term, chronic condition for Christie.

Rider University political scientist Ben Dworkin called it "a speed bump" that tarnishes Christie a bit but is