Breaking: New Jersey Assembly Passes Marriage Equality Bill, Christie Promises Veto


by Karen Ocamb on February 16, 2012

http://lgbtpov.frontiersla.com/2012/02/16/breaking-new-jersey-assembly-passes-marriage-equality-bill-christie-promises-veto/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lgbtpov%2FhMHW+%28LGBT+POV%29&utm_content=Google+Reader





The New Jersey Assembly passed the marriage equality bill by a vote of 42-33. The bill now goes to Republican Gov. Chris Christie who has promised to veto it.  Marriage supporters are now looking for enough votes in the legislature to override the veto – which they do not have in either chamber so far. They have until the end of the legislative session in January 2014 to find them, according to a press release from Garden State Equality.  A recent poll shows that 54 percent of New Jersey voters support marriage equality.





NJ Assembly passes marriage equality bill 42-33


Last Updated on Thursday, 16 February 2012 20:31 | Written by Thomas M. Basgil Jr., Thursday, 16 February 2012 12:56

http://outinjersey.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1583%3Anj-assembly-passes-marriage-equality-bill&Itemid=1


Steven Goldstein said, "Today, the legislature has brought us to the edge of the promised land."

In a 42-33 vote, the New Jersey Assembly voted to approve the Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act. With the addition of the Senate vote in favor, same-gender couples are one step closer to gaining the freedom to marry in NJ. The bill provides broad protections for religious organizations who are not required to marry, or lend services to, gay and lesbian couples.



 



NJ Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill


By ANGELA DELLI SANTI Associated Press | TRENTON, N.J. February 17, 2012 (AP)

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AP
A woman in the gallery is overcome by emotion...

The New Jersey Assembly on Thursday passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriages, setting the stage for an expected veto by Gov. Chris Christie.

The 42-33 vote sends the bill to Christie, who won't take immediate action. The Republican governor who opposes gay marriage had promised "very swift action" if the bill passed both houses of the Legislature, but the Assembly isn't required to send the bill to his desk until the close of business Friday. The Senate approved the bill Monday.

"Without question this is a historic day in the state of New Jersey," Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said after the vote. She said she had never been more proud of the Democratic caucus for doing "what citizens sent us here to do: to deliberate, to use the legislative process to represent the interests of all New Jerseyans."