The New Jersey State Senate approved a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in a 24-16 vote today, NJ.com reports.
Sen. Gerry Cardinale (R-Cresskill) spoke out against the bill during today's debate, the NJ.com report says.
"The essential characteristic of a marriage, the very definition of the term, is it involves at least one male and one female,” he is quoted as saying. “Do not break with thousands of years of civilized tradition. This bill opens Pandora’s box.”
"It is amazing that this extremely controversial bill is the top priority of our legislative leadership, while our taxes are the highest in the country and unemployment ravages," Cardinale said in a statement.
Gov. Chris Christie, who opposes same-sex marriage, has said the decision should be left to voters through a referendum. Christie has promised a veto of any bill allowing same-sex marriage.
A Rutgers-Eagleton poll shows 54 percent of New Jersey voters support same-sex marriage, compared to 35 who don't, Bloomberg.com reports.
Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck) called the state's current civil union law "flawed" and pointed to "vague and undefined" protections for same-sex couples.
"Who are we to say that basic equal rights should be denied to any class of citizen, simply because we’re uncomfortable with the nature of their relationship? The State should not be in the business of legally sanctioning homophobia by conferring separate but equal status to the legal recognition of a union between two people," Weinberg said in remarks released after the vote.
Politickernj.com offers a breakdown of the senate vote here.
The Assembly will take up the bill Thursday.
Happy Valentine's Day soon....
Hey I want to marry my brother who works for the state and has great benefits. Should we be allowed? Same thing isn't it? Thank you Chisty for not going against the will of the people!
I am neither Democrat,Rrepublican or Liberal...I am an American plain and simple. My religion is Christian and I don't always I agree with them and this is one of the cases I don't. Our government is based on a separation of church...There is no official religion of the US. As far as California, that is not a closed issue is is on the the table and still being decided. If two consenting adults choose to live their lives in a committed and loving relationship, who they help is anyone to tell them they can't? They should be have them same basic rights any straight couple have. I agree with you about taxes and spending being out of control, and I believe the NJ political system is currupt..
And yes our government is based on a separation of church and state. When last I checked we had no official US religion, nor do we have churches making political decisions. That's not saying that many religious groups don't have polictial influence, but they do not actual run our government.. Your rhetoric is the same tired old crap that was heard during the civil rights movement, womans suffrage, and even the civil war... racism and bigotry hidden behind religious views is stil racism
Don't have enough room to list all the things our country is "based" on, but It allows for freedom of religion and can't established one..See the first amendment. Nowhere in the constitution is separation of church and state even listed.. How do you explain Christmas being a National Holiday. Who's ignorant now?