The Senate and Assembly both unanimously voted today to create special committees to look into the George Washington Bridge lane closures that happened in September.

The Senate Select Committee on Investigation will investigate all aspects of the GWB lane closings in September. Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg sponsored the legislation.

“The investigation will be deliberative, thoughtful and thorough,” said Sweeney. “It will pursue all aspects of this case and go wherever the evidence takes it. We want to get the full story and we want the truth about what happened and who was involved.”

“Unanswered questions have multiplied as this case has unfolded over the past four months,” said Weinberg, who first challenged the Port Authority for an explanation in September and continued to press for answers. “We will conduct an aggressive investigation with an open mind. We won’t jump to any conclusions but we intend to get to the bottom of this.”

The Senate Select Committee on Investigation includes the following members:

Chairwoman – Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen)
Vice Chairman – Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union)
Sen. Nia H. Gill (D-Essex/Passaic)
Sen. Linda R. Greenstein (D-Mercer/Middlesex)
Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen/Passaic)
Sen. Kevin J. O’Toole (R-Bergen/Essex/Morris/Passaic)
Sen. Michael J. Doherty (R-Hunterdon/Somerset/Warren)

The Assembly passed a resolution to create its own special committee to investigate, which will be chaired by Assemblyman John Wisniewski. Former federal prosecutor Reid Schar, who was involved in the prosecution of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, will be advising the committee.