TRENTON - Within a week, Gov. Christie and the state's two top elected Democrats moved to change laws to let Christie cash in on a book deal, grant sweeping raises across state government, and threaten a source of revenue for New Jersey newspapers.
More often than not, that playbook has been successful for Christie. But not on Monday, as lawmakers objected to a lack of transparency in the rush to pass the legislation and questioned whether the measures were sound policy.
Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D., Hudson) did not allow a vote on either bill Monday, and said he would not reconsider the bill that would have changed state ethics law to benefit Christie and granted raises to various government officials.
Prieto said the Assembly Democratic caucus, which deliberated for hours before Monday's vote, would continue to consider ending the long-standing requirement that legal notices be published in newspapers, a measure vehemently opposed by the state's media companies but aggressively supported by Christie.
Though Christie promised to push for the bill again after the holidays, the Assembly's failure to call a vote marked a departure from past occasions when Democratic leaders had successfully fast-tracked controversial legislation.
"This time, the rank-and-file members said no," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club and a longtime Statehouse political observer. They "were tired of the leadership always going along with Christie and folding like an accordion."
Republicans were also divided. Notably, Christie's top ally in the Assembly, Republican Minority Leader Jon Bramnick, would not publicly commit to supporting the book deal earlier Monday.
Although lawmakers have long hoped for the raises - particularly for judges - some balked at the prospect of rewarding Christie.
The governor's "lack of popularity among members made that discussion probably more difficult than it otherwise would be," said Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D., Gloucester), a sponsor of the bill to grant the raises and change the law to allow Christie to profit from a book. "In my mind it came down to that."
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) did not take reporters' questions after the Senate session. After waiting for the Assembly to act, the Senate did not take up either bill.
Christie's spokesman said Monday night that it was "acceptable to the governor" that the Assembly would need more time to consider the legal notices bill, which would allow publication on government websites.
mhanna@phillynews.com
856-779-3232 @maddiehanna
www.philly.com/christiechronicles
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