Week ahead: NJ’s governor stuck in troubled waters

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) jam over traffic delays that were forced by his administration in September 2013 will likely continue this week.

Christie is on defense over revelations that members of his administration ordered lanes closures on the busiest bridge in the U.S., the George Washington Bridge that connects New Jersey and New York City, in an act of political retribution.

{mosads}Christie fired two of his top staffers and traveled to Fort Lee, N.J., to apologize, but critics are hardly satisfied and investigations in New Jersey and Washington have only just begun.

The U.S. attorney for New Jersey has been reported to be planning to launch an inquiry into the bridge matter, and Democrats in the New Jersey state legislature will likely continue issuing subpoenas for witnesses and documents.

The bridge scandal is unfolding, as Christie is perceived to be laying the groundwork for a potential 2016 presidential campaign.

This year could be critical for Christie. He is the new chair of the Republican Governors Association, and he had hoped to boost his national profile by campaigning for GOP candidates in November’s election.

Elsewhere in Washington, the Senate’s transportation committee will hold a hearing Wednesday to “examine the future of unmanned aviation in the United States … focusing on safety and privacy considerations.” The hearing comes as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is in the process of selecting test sites for examining the impact of increased drone use on commercial flights.

Meanwhile, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will meet Tuesday to begin consideration of a new road of road and transit funding. The current surface transportation funding is scheduled to expire in September.

The panel will also meet on Wednesday to conduct a “review of the challenges facing California High Speed Rail.”