Communist
7th January 2010, 23:06
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NJ Senate defeats gay marriage bill (http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100107/UPDATES01/100107001/NJ-Senate-defeats-gay-marriage-bill)
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey's state Senate has defeated a bill to legalize gay marriage, the latest in a string of setbacks for advocates.
The defeat, by a vote of 20-14likely ends any chance that the state Legislature approves gay marriage soon. Five senators did not vote; there is one Senate vacancy.
Gay rights advocates had been pushing hard for the bill because on Jan. 19, new Republican Gov. Chris Christie takes office and he has vowed to veto a gay marriage bill. Outgoing Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine had promised to sign it into law.
It was a major effort to get the bill to a full Senate. A vote was canceled last month when it appeared the measure would be defeated there. It wasn't until Tuesday that Senate leaders decided to allow the vote.
New Jersey offers civil unions that grant the legal rights of marriage to gay couples.
How they voted
The measure had 14 yes votes, far short of the 21 needed for passage, and 20 votes against it. Three Democratic senators who were present for the vote -- James Beach of Camden County, Paul Sarlo of Bergen County and Stephen Sweeney of Gloucester County -- didn't vote, two senators were absent, and one Senate seat is currently vacant.
Among the 22 Democrats, 13 voted yes and six voted no -- John Girgenti of Passaic County, Fred Madden of Gloucester County, Ronald Rice of Essex County, Nicholas Sacco of Hudson County and Jeff Van Drew of Cape May County. Three skipped the vote, and the 23rd Democratic seat is currently vacant due to the resignation of Dana Redd, who became Camden mayor on Friday.
Among the 17 Republicans, only Sen. Bill Baroni Jr. of Mercer County voted for the bill. Sen. Diane Allen, R-Burlington, was absent due to illness, and Sen. Andrew Ciesla, R-Ocean, was also absent.
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NJ Senate defeats gay marriage bill (http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100107/UPDATES01/100107001/NJ-Senate-defeats-gay-marriage-bill)
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey's state Senate has defeated a bill to legalize gay marriage, the latest in a string of setbacks for advocates.
The defeat, by a vote of 20-14likely ends any chance that the state Legislature approves gay marriage soon. Five senators did not vote; there is one Senate vacancy.
Gay rights advocates had been pushing hard for the bill because on Jan. 19, new Republican Gov. Chris Christie takes office and he has vowed to veto a gay marriage bill. Outgoing Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine had promised to sign it into law.
It was a major effort to get the bill to a full Senate. A vote was canceled last month when it appeared the measure would be defeated there. It wasn't until Tuesday that Senate leaders decided to allow the vote.
New Jersey offers civil unions that grant the legal rights of marriage to gay couples.
How they voted
The measure had 14 yes votes, far short of the 21 needed for passage, and 20 votes against it. Three Democratic senators who were present for the vote -- James Beach of Camden County, Paul Sarlo of Bergen County and Stephen Sweeney of Gloucester County -- didn't vote, two senators were absent, and one Senate seat is currently vacant.
Among the 22 Democrats, 13 voted yes and six voted no -- John Girgenti of Passaic County, Fred Madden of Gloucester County, Ronald Rice of Essex County, Nicholas Sacco of Hudson County and Jeff Van Drew of Cape May County. Three skipped the vote, and the 23rd Democratic seat is currently vacant due to the resignation of Dana Redd, who became Camden mayor on Friday.
Among the 17 Republicans, only Sen. Bill Baroni Jr. of Mercer County voted for the bill. Sen. Diane Allen, R-Burlington, was absent due to illness, and Sen. Andrew Ciesla, R-Ocean, was also absent.
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