Today’s Contentious Debate Will Last Into The Night
The New Jersey State Senate Judiciary committee – a thirteen member panel – will debate then vote on whether or not to bring a same sex marriage bill to the floor of the full Senate. If the bill passes committee, the Senate will vote on it on Thursday. Outgoing Governor Corzine has already stated he will sign the bill.
While the bill, “The Freedom of Religion in Civil Marriage Act,” is expected to move to the full Senate by a narrow margin, even if it is passed and signed into law, incoming Governor Christie has made clear he is opposed to the bill and will work for its repeal.
Via New Jersey Newsroom:
“Action on the proposal comes 12 days after a Quinnipiac University poll found New Jerseyans oppose same-sex marriage 49 to 46 percent, with 6 percent undecided. In a poll made public April 29, New Jerseyans supported the idea 49 to 43 percent.
In the latest poll, same-sex marriage wins 60 to 34 percent support among Democrats and a narrow 49 to 45 percent support among independent New Jerseyans, while Republicans oppose the measure 69 to 25 percent.
Women support same-sex marriage 53 to 41 percent, while men oppose it 57 to 38 percent. White New Jerseyans split 49 to 47 percent, while black New Jerseyans oppose the measure 61 to 28 percent. White Protestants oppose same-sex marriage 60 to 36 percent, as do Catholics 51 to 45 percent. Jews support it 71 to 28 percent.”
Debate is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM and will take hours, given all the testimony scheduled. Stay tuned!