New Jersey legislature will hold marriage equality veto override votes this session

Yeah, he's still a Republican. A year ago, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie showed his true Republican colors and vetoed legislation that would have legalized same sex marriage, using a number of excuses including saying that something this important should be done by referendum, voted on by the people. That's one way of ducking positive leadership, anyway.

But now Democrats in the state Senate and Assembly are vowing to hold override votes this term. They don't quite have the numbers for an override yet, but are working hard to get them.

[Assemblyman Reed] Gusciora, an openly gay lawmaker who sponsored the bill in the Assembly, said he met with both Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald and both men were committed to putting the bill up for an override. The bill did not pass in either house with enough votes to override the governor's action, but gay rights advocates have been working the phones for a year trying to turn lawmakers in their favor.

The bill passed 24-16 in the Senate and 42-33 in the Assembly. In the Senate, three additional votes are needed to pass an override, while in the Assembly an additional 12 are needed for the two-thirds majority required to override.

"I think we can get the three in the Senate," he said. "But the Assembly is a different story.  I can name five who might switch their vote, but it stops there."

The vote will likely be scheduled after the June primaries, when proponents will likely have an easier time convincing a few Republicans to vote for the override "without fear of retribution from conservative voters or the governor." There is also the possibility that Garden State Equality will work to get an initiative on the 2014 ballot, though Sweeney objects, preferring that the legislature make the new law.

Either way, New Jersey is going to be in the thick of the equality fight in the next election. So from coast to coast, New Jersey to Oregon, equality is on the march. And we can help it happen. Please contribute now to Oregon United for Marriage.