Suit seeks to stop Christie order ending ports watchdog

NEWARK, N.J. – A bistate commission formed to combat corruption at the ports of New York and New Jersey is going to court to fight former Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s attempt to disband it.

The Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor filed suit Tuesday, a day after Christie signed an order withdrawing the state from the commission.

The suit names Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, who was sworn in Tuesday. It alleges federal law doesn’t allow one state to withdraw from a bistate compact unilaterally.

Murphy didn’t immediately comment on the lawsuit Wednesday.

The commission was established in the 1950s to monitor hiring and working conditions and battle the influence of organized crime at the ports.

It is funded by assessments on waterfront employers on the wages they pay to employees.