The Gay Marriage Debate Comes to New Jersey

Today, New Jersey stepped up to the plate to join New Hampshire, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Washington D.C. in allowing same sex marriage. These are mostly liberal based states and generally vote Democratic in most elections. So, New Jersey would seem to fit that mold. It sits in between two major cities and generally is fairly open to change.

However, things did not go as planned for many who felt that this law should be passed. The state Senate today postponed a planned vote as supporters felt that holding off a bit and letting the Assembly debate the issue further as a way to garner some more support. The state legislature is trying to get the measure through before the end of the session next month. The Senate President, Richard Codey, mentioned that a vote would be held off until the bill has been vetted further through debate despite the delay it might cause. The moves done today surprised many top Democrats and it now becomes uncertain when the Assembly Judiciary Committee will pick up the measure for debate.

Those who oppose the bill see the delay as a cue that the Senate didn't have the 21 votes necessary to pass the measure. Those same voices mentioned the fact that measures aren't usually brought up unless there is a strong sense that the 21 votes are there. A poll yesterday of members in the State Senate showed that 13 publicly supported the bill and 18 opposed it with 9 undecided or didn't say either way. The votes are pretty much down party lines.

Protests and an out-crying of support were both seen at Trenton and I am sure the opinions will only become stronger as this debate continues. This measure should be picked up shortly and sometime early next month it would be wise for it to return for a vote and from the debates I am sure more positives will be seen than negatives. New Jersey has been one of the most blue states in recent years and this measure goes along with most of the voters and most of the legislators opinions. If Iowa can support this measure, why can't New Jersey?

Time will see how this develops, but for now the gay marriage debate's new hub is New Jersey.