O’Scanlon Reiterates His Support Of Gay Marriage
Various news sources are reporting that Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) has “broken with Governor Christie” over the issue of same sex marriage.
The news reports are inaccurate.
O’Scanlon was never “with” Governor Christie on the same sex marriage issue. He’s been on the record as favoring the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemptions Act since February of 2012 when the bill passed both houses of the legislature and was vetoed by Christie.
O’Scanlon was absent from the February 2012 vote because he was attending Senator Jennifer Beck’s wedding in Jamaica. Upon his return to New Jersey, he told triCityNews that he would have voted for the bill had he been present and that he would vote to override Christie’s veto if it ever comes up for a vote.
triCityNews is not published online. Publisher Dan Jacobson verified my recollection of O’Scanlon’s quotes on the phone this evening.
The issue is in the news again because marriage equality advocates have been in Trenton this week lobbying for an override of Christie’s veto before the end of the legislative session in January.
The Marriage Equality and Religious Exemptions Act passed the Senate with a vote of 24-16 and the Assembly by 42-33, with 5 Assembly members, including O’Scanlon and Mary Pat Angelini not voting. An override requires a 2/3 affirmative vote. In order for an override to succeed, the bill needs three additional yes votes in the Senate and 12 yes votes in the Assembly. O’Scanlon and Angelini represent two of the needed yes votes. Republican Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi of Bergen County also didn’t vote in 2012. Schepisi said she would vote to override, leaving the bill needing 9 votes to pass in the Assembly.
If there is a override vote, it probably won’t occur until the “lame duck” session after the November election and before the new legislature takes office in January.
More from my site
Christie Drops Appeal To Gay Marriage Decision
Garden State Equality Launches Campaign To Convert Chick-fil-A Operators To Their Cause
Have Civil Unions Worked?
Christie Conditionally Vetos Marriage Equality and Religious Exemptions Act
Gay married couple sues Catholic institution over medical benefits- Democratic Leader Wants No Religious Exceptions For Gay Marriage
N.J. legislators inching toward override of Christie’s gay marriage veto
Both GOP Candidates Favor Marriage Equality
Gay Marriage and The Church
Opinion: Same-Sex Marriage Poses No Political Threat to Gov. Christie
Hey Declan, why stop there? Why not two girls and a guy? Why not one guy and 10 women? Why not a guy and his dalmation? Why not a guy and a 10 year old? Why not end all standards for everything? What a sniveling little weakling you turned out to be.
O’Scanlon and Jennifer Beck: Perfect together.
Declan has become my favorite legislator.
He clearly understands small government.
He clearly understands that traditional marriage for centuries had no government involvement whatsoever, and every since government became involved in the 1750s marriage has become less important and in further jeopardy.
Interesting especially since any of the other R legislatures that were actually in favor of marriage equality but were afraid to say so now have cover to be yes votes.
In a Christian spirit I will pray for Declan.
Here is my slant on gay marriage (against). I will be dammed if some 21st century squeeky wheel, johnny-come-latelies change a 3,000+ year old human tradition. If civil unions are not enough, get over it. The fact is this, if gay marriage is permitted how about incest, polygamy, underage marriage, etc. is not ok? We draw the line there?