Same Sex Marriage Passes Senate Judiciary Committee
Christie Calls For a Referendum
The Marriage Equality and Religious Exceptions Act passed the New Jersey Senate Judiciary committee this afternoon on a partisan 8-4 vote. Democrats Nicholas Scutari, Nia Gill, Nellie Pou, Paul Sarlo, Brain Stack, Loretta Weinberg, and Joe Vitale voted for the bill. Republicans Kip Bateman, Michael Doherty, Joe Kyrillos and Kevin O’Toole voted no.
While at a Town Hall meeting in Bridgewater, Governor Chris Christie called for putting the question on the ballot in November. Back in Trenton, Senate President Stephen Sweeney quickly rejected Christie’s call for a referendum, calling it a civil rights issue that should be decided by the legislature, not the people.
Former Governor Jon Corzine’s Public Advocate, Richard Chen, said that Women’s Suffrage was on the New Jersey ballot in 1915 and was defeated, passing only in Ocean County.
Posted: January 24th, 2012 | Author: Art Gallagher | Filed under: Marriage Equality | Tags: Chris Christie, Gay Marriage, Jon Corzine, Marriage Equality and Religous Exceptions Act, Marriage Equaltiy, Richard Chen, Same Sex Marriage, Stephen Sweeney | 30 Comments »