TRENTON – It wasn’t even the most contentious issues discussed behind closed doors today, the empowerment of the select legislative committee to examine hiring practices in the Murphy Administration.

With NJEA members packing the hallways, the real backroom debates centered around A2001, which transfers county college employees and retirees from membership in SEHBP to membership in SHBP.

For more, go here.

As for the select committee item:

“The resolution is going to pass,” said a Democratic source hovering outside the caucus room.

Huddling with his fellow Democratic lawmakers, Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) assured them that he won’t be party to a “political witch hunt.”

There were questions about the resolution, more about the scope of the investigation than anything, a second source said.

“Sticking with hiring practices,” Coughlin said, adding that the legislature itself might be able to incorporate some of what they seek to apply to the executive.