Senate Will Vote on Marriage Equality Bill on Thursday

By • Jan 5th, 2010 • Category: Blog, News, Politics

A faint glimmer of hope for LGBT advocates and their allies is visible today, as Senate president Dick Codey has announced that he will post New Jersey’s marriage equality bill for debate and a vote on Thursday.

“Given the intensely personal nature of this issue, I think the people of this state deserve the right to a formal debate on the Senate floor,” Codey said. “I’d like to commend both sides of this issue for their passionate advocacy thus far and the heartfelt testimony that we have heard.”

Codey can certainly expect more “passionate advocacy” on Thursday from Garden State Equality, which has been turning out supporters in force to lobby and rally for the bill. The group plans on meeting in front of the State House at 10:30 am on Thursday, before marching over to the State House Annex to talk to legislators prior to the vote.

Two of Hudson County’s three state senators — Sandra Cunningham and Brian Stack — have pledged to vote for the bill. North Bergen’s Nick Sacco has said he will vote against it.

The bill was nearly voted on by the Senate last month after being cleared by the Senate Judiciary Committee, but the bill’s sponsors postponed the vote, saying they wanted the Assembly to consider the legislation first. But last week Assembly speaker Joe Roberts said the Assembly wouldn’t consider the bill unless the Senate voted first.

Today, Roberts said that as “a strong supporter of marriage equality,” he was “pleased to see the legislation will get a debate and a vote on Thursday in the Senate.”

“I hope the bill earns enough support to pass the Senate,” he said. “[If so], I will take the extraordinary step of bringing the bill directly to the Assembly floor for a vote during our Monday voting session.”

Monday also happens to be the final day of the legislature’s lame-duck session, the de facto deadline for the bill to pass. Gov. Corzine has on many occasions said he will sign the legislation if it makes it to his desk; Gov.-elect Christie has pledged to veto it.

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Like what you've read here? Please consider making a donation or becoming a sustaining member. As a grassroots news organization, we rely on community support -- as well as paid advertising -- to survive.

is the founding editor of the Jersey City Independent; he now works for a public-policy nonprofit in Trenton.
Email this author | All posts by

  • jimb

    I can’t tell from the maps on wikipedia, does all of jersey city vote for the 32nd district or just the heights?

  • http://www.jerseycityindependent.com Jon Whiten

    It’s not all of Jersey City — the 31st, 32nd and 33rd all represent different parts of Jersey City. But the 32nd covers most of the Heights and some of the West Side. The best map I’ve found online to lay clear where the boundaries are can be found here: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/gis/map.shtm

  • Alb

    GLBT marriage equality is such a no-brainer. There is no possible reasonable secular argument against it.

    The argument that allowing GLBT marriage weakens the institution of marriage is especially absurd. If the jerks making that argument really wanted to strengthen the institution of marriage, they’d start a nonprofit organization that would provide free babysitting, dish washing and bathroom cleaning services.