New Jersey Legislature Sends Gay Marriage Bill To Governor Christie For Justified Veto

  • If Governor Chris Christie hopes to have any future in the Republican Party he needs to follow through and veto legislation that would legalize gay marriage. From Reuters:

    The New Jersey Assembly passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage on Thursday, sending the measure to Republican Gov. Chris Christie, a possible vice-presidential candidate who has promised a veto.

    The Assembly vote of 42 to 33 affirmed a Senate vote from Monday and increased the scrutiny on Christie, a supporter of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney who has attempted to deflect controversy by saying the matter should be settled by voters in a referendum.

    Both chambers appeared to lack the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto. Christie’s spokesman said the governor would have no further comment on the legislation Thursday, but he has been emphatic in the past about his intention to veto it.

    The New Jersey vote took place just as Maryland’s House of Delegates was due to debate a similar initiative legalizing same-sex marriage, highlighting a contentious social issue gaining prominence in a presidential election year.

    The action in the Maryland and New Jersey statehouses follows passage of legislation in Washington state. Gov. Christine Gregoire signed the Washington bill on Monday, but it will not take effect until at least June. Opponents are working to gather signatures for a ballot initiative in November that would block the legislation.

    In addition to Washington, six other states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation allowing same-sex marriages.

    New Jersey’s Democratic leadership, which controls both houses of the legislature, has made gay marriage a top priority this session, saying the state’s civil union law does not adequately protect same-sex couples.

    “Now is not the time to punt. Now is the time to stand up for what is right,” Majority Leader Louis D. Greenwald told the chamber during the debate…

    Being gay is not the same as being the member of a true minority. One can refrain from sexual activity regardless of one’s desires. One cannot refrain from being African American, Hispanic, or like my children, Asian American. It is morally offensive to compare the two. Stand up the intimidation and name calling by the Left and stand for what is right.

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    February 16th, 2012 | bluecollartodd | No Comments | Tags: , ,

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