The Senate has cancelled today’s hearings on our Race To The Top fumble because last night it received emails it had requested from the DOE. MyCentralJersey has the best coverage, including this exchange between United States Assistant Secretary Peter Cunningham to Deputy Commissioner Andy Smarick:

From our standpoint — it would be great if you guys said something like: ‘We’re disappointed but moving forward anyway.’ ” Assistant Secretary Peter Cunningham wrote to Deputy Commissioner Andrew Smarick.

“And try and avoid the analysis that New Jersey lost because the unions didn’t sign on,” Cunningham continued.

Smarick affirmed the tactic. “I think we’ll do both – say we’re pushing ahead and ignore the union issue,” Smarick wrote back. “NJEA, however, will likely brag and gloat.”