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Friday, October 8, 2010

Schundler: Christie nixed compromise with union | APP.com | Asbury Park Press

Schundler: Christie nixed compromise with union | APP.com | Asbury Park Press

Schundler: Christie nixed compromise with union

BY MICHAEL SYMONS • STATEHOUSE BUREAU • OCTOBER 7, 2010

TRENTON — Stung by criticism that he'd caved to the teachers' union after feuding with it for nearly a year, Gov. Chris Christie abandoned the state's best chance to win a $400 million grant rather than appear to compromise, former Education Commissioner Bret Schundler said today.

Schundler — subpoenaed to testify before the Senate Legislative Oversight Committee — said he made few, inconsequential changes to the state's Race to the Top application in order to gain support from the New Jersey Education Association for the state's bid for a federal education reform grant.

But Christie ordered him to abandon the changes, some of which were made with his staff's knowledge,