New Jersey Senate President Vows Same Sex Marriage Will Pass Despite Christie Veto Threat

I've written before on how New Jersey Governor Chris Christie lacks the spine and leadership to get on the right side of history and sign the same sex marriage bill that the New Jersey legislature is likely to land on his desk. He's cowered before the religious extremists in the Republican Party and suggested that the issue be put to vote via a referendum (can we put a ban on fat people being governor on the ballot too?) and also said he'd veto the bill should the legislature pass it. The president of the New Jersey Senate is not intimidated and has vowed to find the votes to override a veto by Christie. What's unique is the period of time that the legislature has to override a veto - it works out to almost two years. With the rapid up-trending of support for marriage equality it's totally possible that an override could occur. Here are highlights from Raw Story on the confrontation:

New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) said Friday that the state legislature would pass a bill to legalize same sex marriage despite a veto threat from Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

“It is absolutely going to pass on Monday, and I expect it to pass the Assembly on Thursday, and it’s going to go to the governor’s desk,” he said during an appearance on the Brian Lehrer Show. Christie has pledged to veto the bill, and called for the New Jersey legislature to draft a constitutional amendment and put the issue to a statewide vote.

“You don’t put civil rights on the ballot,” Sweeney told Lehrer. “When you put it on the ballot, the majority will always deny the minority.”

“If the governor vetoes the bill, we’re gonna fight to override the governor,” he added. “I have two years to do it almost, so that gives us plenty of time to work on people.” Overriding the governor’s veto would require two-thirds majority vote in both the Assembly and the Senate.

Polls show the majority of New Jerseyans support the right of same sex couples to wed, according to the Associated Press.

I continue to hope that the GOP's anti-gay jihad will turn out longer term to be a slow form of political suicide.