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New Jersey Legislature To Vote On Gay Marriage This Week Despite Threat Of Christie Veto

» 71 comments

On the heels of last week’s ruling by the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that California’s Proposition 8 is unconstitutional and the state of Washington voting last week to legalize gay marriage, the national debate over gay equality shifts to New Jersey, with the state legislature expected to vote on a gay marriage bill tomorrow. Democratic State Senate President Stephen Sweeney predicts that it will pass both the Senate and State Assembly, but Governor Chris Christie will most likely veto it.

RELATED: Mitt Romney Tells CPAC: ‘I Prevented Massachusetts From Becoming The Las Vegas Of Gay Marriage’

Sweeney sounded rather bullish in his prediction that the bill will “absolutely” pass the Senate, but admitted that if the governor chooses to veto it, the legislative body does not have the two-thirds majority required to override it. Meanwhile, Governor Christie is still committed to putting gay marriage to a public referendum in the state. He has gotten a great deal of criticism for this move, and a Republican state senator has followed his lead by proposing a bill to put a referendum on the ballot this November.

“Let’s stop the political games and let the people of New Jersey decide,” said [State Senator Christopher] Bateman (R-Somerset) in a press release. “Marriage equality advocates and opponents would both have the ability to register their opinion at the ballot box. Nobody would be disenfranchised on either side of the issue.”

The move was immediately criticized by state Democrats. Assemblyman Reed Gusciora argued that “any time you provide voters an opportunity to make a judgment of one group over the other, it violates the Madisonian principle that are meant to protect majority whims over a given minority.” And Sweeney echoed similar sentiments, saying “when you put [civil rights] on the ballot, the majority will always deny the minority.”

RELATED: Jim McGreevey On New York’s Gay Marriage Law: Politicians Are ‘Catching Up To The American Public’

For her part, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire said she would be willing to meet with Christie to lobby him to change his position on the state legislature vote.

“I feel a good working relationship with Governor Christie… I respect him as a fellow governor. I have worked with him on a number of issues. So yeah, I would feel very comfortable sharing with him my personal journey and then sharing with him the overwhelming response that I’ve received.”

A recent poll found that a majority of New Jersey voters are in favor of holding a public referendum on gay marriage this November. Meanwhile, delegates in the Maryland state house are more divided on the issue, with recent polls showing voters are split down the middle on gay marriage.

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  • Anonymous

    I thought he was supposed to be the reasonable GOP guy?

  • Anonymous

    For all the talk about Christie’s boldness and guts, he sure has turned out to be a coward on the issue of marriage equality.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6NVQXKGM4GSM6RZ7ZW3BQ2D73I Kim

    My friend just met a chocolate man on Blackwhitemeet.COMit’s where for men and women looking for interracial’ship for a fabulous lifestyle
    It’s a nice place for black white sing’les, to interact with each other…no bounds or extremes in front of true love.

  • Anonymous

     He is already being groomed by the Koch brothers for 2016.

  • Hugo Daun

    Add something about gravy to the bill and Christie will certainly support it.

  • Anonymous

    No he ate the reasonable guy!

  • Anonymous

    He doesn’t have to veto anything. If they send him the bill he just has to eat on it or he could just sit on it & no one will ever find it.

  • Anonymous

    We in New Jersey are required to pay outrageously high medical insurance premiums to support an equality-based health system that doesn’t penalize Chris Christie because he CHOOSES to shove boxes of twinkies down his throat, making his inevitable health problems our burden. Where do I get to vote on a referendum to increase his insurance rates because he chooses to be a health risk?

    Yet, for the equally tax paying NJ residents who do NOT CHOOSE their sexual orientation, he believes he has the right to deny them the fairness of marriage-equality. As far as the government is concerned marriages are civil contracts between two adults, whether they are gay or straight it has no bearing. Government should get out of the morality business. Hypocrisy, your name is Christie.

  • Ch Ob

    If legislators are going to put same-sex marriage up for a vote, then they should put pederasty and pedophila up for a vote too. Just trying to be fair.

  • Anonymous

    No you’re not, you’re intentionally trying to be offensive, placing homosexuality on the same level as acts of child abuse. You should be ashamed of yourself.

  • Anonymous

    Yes NJ. Make him act, to veto it or accept it.

  • Ben

    Well…who knew Rick Santorum commented on mediaite…
    Btw Rick..you for got the “man on dog” thing too..just saying.

    Just curious…googled yourself yet?

  • WiddleBabyDanielson

     MMMMMMMMMMMMMM

    Chocolate….

  • Anonymous

     Maybe you should work on being reasonably intelligent and understanding the differences, before you make the leap to trying to be fair.

    everytime I hear or read crap like that I think of other bigots saying, “Hey, I really have nothing against, {insert minority} , as long as they know thier place”

  • WiddleBabyDanielson

    Good for Christie.  Wouldn’t want NJ to turn out like that state Massachusetts, you know where that guy he’s backing for president used to be Governor, and gays can get married.

    And not just civil unions

    Massachusetts Laws

    Massachusetts Constitution

    MGL c.207.
    Marriage. The same laws and procedures that govern traditional marriage
    also apply to same-sex marriages. There are no special procedures for a
    same-sex marriage.

  • Anonymous

    He obviously has a lot of guys. Probably even 2. Look how big he is.

  • Anonymous

    Or maybe the governor’s eating habits that are contributing to worldwide famine should be put up for a vote as well.

  • Anonymous

    Vetoing his bill would be the most exercise Christie would get in a long time.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2KHZWZQZFPZASXZ4KOMIS27UFU a

    He can have his own reality show – “The Biggest Loser”

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2KHZWZQZFPZASXZ4KOMIS27UFU a

    Why does it need to be a referendum? We, the people, elected the reps in the State Legislature – they “represent” us….so who is he, as an individual, to go against the people we voted for???

  • http://www.proactivepolitics.blogspot.com/ Norbit Peters

    Why don’t we reserve marriage privileges and designations only for those willing to commit to the raising and rearing of children – whether as natural parents or adoptive.

    There could be formalized training and certification, and it would apply to all who were willing to make that commitment.

    Any other union could be given a different title and status, but the key intent would be to provide special accommodation for those willing to socialize our progeny.

    http://www.proactivepolitics.blogspot.com

     

  • http://www.proactivepolitics.blogspot.com/ Norbit Peters

     My thoughts exactly, but to Boehner.

    Don’t wait you moron, pass the – what shall we call it? – “Protect Religion From The Democrats” Bill now, and dare the President to veto it.

    That smell in the air is the fear of 100 million religious people who just saw the first salvo launched against the core of their existence!
    (too long for a t-shirt? heh-heh)

  • Anonymous

    Oh course Christie has to say he would veto this—-he is hoping to get chosen as VP nomination, so he has to appeal to the Far Right.       This guy will be laid up with a coronary attack in a couple of years.         Ole butterball  better think about his own backyard first.

  • Anonymous

     I actually agree with this idea, but people without kids want to claim taxes as well.

  • Ch Ob

     I know that was off topic, but this one gave me a chuckle.

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    Nice!!

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    Lol!!

  • http://mediamatters.org/ Leedog

    I think it’s clear Christie hates homosexuals… but loves Twinkies!!

  • William German

    I bet he has a secret yen for twinks, too.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TWK2YYJTTIDLZIVV7NKZM23Z6Q Tyler

    I think that took him off the VP list.  

  • Anonymous

    The gay mafia will not get their agenda through democratic ways, so after this they will try what California did with Prop 8.

    Shameful let the people decide, not the politicians or Judges.

  • Anonymous

    The difference being that SSM is actually about equality while you are spouting nonsense about religion being attacked. Did you know several religious groups appluaded and supported Obama’s decision? So much for your delusional dreams. But please, keep promoting and advertising this foolishness. Progressives appreciate the help.

  • Anonymous

    The day that State and Federal Governments end legislating morality,will mark the day we erect a gravestone over the Republican party.

  • BooBoo Bear

     I’m guessing that your comment is because of the Birth Control pills.

    Here’s what I object to…Your party and most likely the denomination of Christianity that you belong to being fine with your insurance paying for Viagra..Cost over $7,950 a year for ONE Prescription. While you are totally against BC pills ONE Generic Prescription of that costs less than $15 a year. That’s 530 times what BC pills cost.

  • BooBoo Bear

     So you’re fine if a Gay Couple wants to get married and adopt children. But then you must see the other side of the coin. Are you going to take away all the marriage licenses that have been given to a couple (male/female) since they haven’t had any children. Can’t have it both ways.

    And as someone who is fine with a gay couple getting married. I find that why do you want to make them adopt? Unless you are going to make all the straight couples adopt too.

    And I have nothing against couples not having children. After all who do you think is paying for your children’s education? Many times it’s the childless straight couple as well as the childless gay couple.
    With one difference the straight couple can get that little piece of paper that says it’s fine and dandy to claim their other half on their tax returns and get another exemption for them if they both don’t work.
    (as well as two earner family’s)

  • BooBoo Bear

     As long as I can vote whether you can marry the person of your choosing. *Can’t tell if you’re a guy or a girl.

  • AIiveStiIIKickin

    I hate homosexuality and I think Governor Christie does also.
    There is no shame in hating sinful behavior.
    There IS shame in condoning it.
     

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_6NVQXKGM4GSM6RZ7ZW3BQ2D73I Kim

    My friend just met a chocolate man on Blackwhitemeet.COMit’s where for men and women looking for interracial’ship for a fabulous lifestyle
    It’s a nice place for black white sing’les, to interact with each other…no bounds or extremes in front of true love.

  • Anonymous

    fair? your a douche

  • Anonymous

    or two?

  • Anonymous

    “gay mafia”, “From My Cold Dead Hands”

     now there’s a dead give away

  • Anonymous

    So there is no shame in hating you?
    Fergetit, it aint worth the energy to hate you

  • Tan

    Or ‘Hippo-Christie’ rather?

  • Anonymous

    you must have learned the word salvo recently. You have used it in almost every comment you have written lately. Here is a tip, just because you use the word salvo many times, doesn’t make your comments sound any more intelligent - “Protect Religion From The Democrats” bill?  Really? I would take a wild guess that you don’t know the history of this country very well, do you? I say that, because if you did, you would know, a bill like that would be an affront to many of our founding fathers. And not just an affront, but just plain ignorant, That is the problem we face in this country, when one side (i.e. the right) thinks they have God on their side, they start assuming the other side is “evil”. You cant have a logical or fact based conversation with people like that, hence the ugly situation we are in. how can we debate, when they see the left as evil , there is no chance they will compromise with the devil! 

  • AIiveStiIIKickin

    I understand your point. You hate me without shame.
    How can you suffer shame when you have no morals?

  • AIiveStiIIKickin

    Yeah….The lack of PC crap must be driving you up the wall.
    Conservatives have the joy of being able to speak in honest terms without subliminal messages instead of spending hours “intellectualizing” on how to lie with cover  or  to cover what they’re actually saying.
    It is referred to as TRUTH.(look it up…it’s a real word)

  • AIiveStiIIKickin

    My friend just met a chocolate man

    Happy Easter?

  • AIiveStiIIKickin

    “Homosexuals” and “Marriage” are antonyms like “Obama” and “Leader”.
    You can’t sail a boat in the desert.

  • Anonymous

    It is refreshing to listen to one who speaks frankly.
    I tire of all the subterfuge, evasions, and lies.

  • Anonymous

    Unless you are Captain Jack Sparrow…

  • Anonymous

    Maybe im not being realistic here but aren’t you conservatives really fighting a losing battle? Doesn’t it feel that this subject is slowly but surely slipping away from your grasp? Seems that way to me. Another losing battle that will inevitably be normal within 15 to 20 years. Then you an claim you were  for it all the time.

  • Anonymous

     Like “education” and “conservatives” ?

  • Anonymous

     you’re committing a sin by hating and there is no sin greater than the other right?

  • AIiveStiIIKickin

    Hating sinful behavior isn’t a sin and all sins are not comparable.
    Try blasphemy on for size and see where you end up.
    You really should actually read the Bible before making such ignorant comments.

  • http://susanais9.spaces.live.com susanai

     I think this is true. God help us all.

  • http://susanais9.spaces.live.com susanai

     ..or three.

  • Anonymous

    Like “Chris Christie” & “exercise”.

  • Anonymous

    He wouldn’t have made a good VP anyway. Feeding him & transporting him would cause the campaign & country to go bankrupt.

  • Anonymous

    Hatred is a powerful virtue.

  • Anonymous

    We all have committed sin just by being born. That’s why we have Jesus. You’re preaching Old Testament garbage. None of that mattered after Christ was sacrificed. By your logic, JESUS DIED FOR NOTHING.

  • Anonymous

    I would really hate to have to share an elevator with this guy. I would rather just take the stairs, too bad Christie wouldn’t.

  • Anonymous

    How come you condemn gays for violating Leviticus but you have no problems with Christie being a glutton?

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_C7RM2CCQUO4VVC56BAXMWCYYKQ Samsohn

    you musta got an 800 on the SAT verbal!

  • Anonymous

    I don’t get it, what is the problem with letting the people of NJ decide this with a vote? Everybody seems to be having kittens over this, and it seems pretty simple to me. Let the people decide. It looks like the majority of them support same sex marriage. Wouldn’t the fact that the citizens voted this in make it even more impactful than having a bunch of lobbyist owned politicians make it a law?

  • Anonymous

    Simply put, you don’t put the civil rights of any minority up to majority vote.
    One only needs to go back a short 40 years to realize that without thoughtful, forward-thinking legislative leaders today’s Aftrican-americans might still be living ‘separate-but-equal’ lives waiting for that ‘majority vote’ to give them equal rights.

  • AIiveStiIIKickin

    Jesus mentions a sin that is unforgivable in Matt. 12:31-32 and calls it blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
    Read it and learn….You must really like crow pie.

  • Anonymous

    So you are putting 2012 New Jersey in the same league as segragationalist Southerners from the 60′s? I think that is a bit of a stretch and pretty insulting to a large portion of the populace.

  • AIiveStiIIKickin

    There you go again with your maniacal liberal projecting.

    Change the subject much to take the heat off your ass?
     

  • Anonymous

    No, just trying to understand your hypocrisy.

  • Anonymous

    So unless homosexuality & blasphemy are the same thing, you’re barking up the wrong tree.

  • AIiveStiIIKickin

    Funny how liberals like a Democracy when it suits their agenda but hate it when it is in practice.
    In a Democracy…the majority rules….toolbox.

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