South Jersey Democrats, led by state Senate President Steve Sweeney, signed a letter that labels Lautenberg's remarks as "bizarre and misguided," ''uninformed and vengeful" and "utterly false."
Lautenberg on Monday wrote the U.S. education secretary that suspicions were raised that the plan was "crafted to benefit powerful political interests without regard for the impact on students."
The comments appeared to take aim at south jersey Democratic boss George Norcross, who supports the merger.
In an e-mail to New Jersey Press Media, Lautenberg's spokesman wrote it was sad "elected officials will simply fall in line on orders from their political benefactor."
