New Jersey Same-Sex Marriage Vote Postponed

MYFOXNY.COM - Gay rights activists and opponents are expected to lobby in Trenton on Thursday after a vote to legalize marriage for same-sex couples in New Jersey was postponed. Fox 5 News has learned that Democrats backing the measure don't have the votes they need to pass it.

The bill is being sent to the Assembly Judiciary Committee instead to move toward a vote in the lower house.

The Senate vote was expected to take place on Thursday. It would have been the first time lawmakers in New Jersey had voted on the issue.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill 7-6 late on Monday night.

Lawmakers took the committee vote after nearly nine hours of testimony.

Sen. Ray Lesniak sponsored the bill. He told Fox 5 after the vote that he knew the committee had the votes to pass the measure. He expected the full Senate vote to be as close as the committee vote.

"Senator Weinberg and Senator Lesniak have expressed their earnest desire to postpone tomorrow's vote until there has been adequate time to vet the bill before the Assembly Judiciary Committee," said Senate President Richard Codey. "I understand their desire to make sure this bill receives the thorough attention it deserves and therefore I have agreed to postpone tomorrow's vote until further notice."

The Assembly has not scheduled a vote. Lesniak still expects a vote on same-sex marriage in both houses before the end of the lame-duck legislative session in January.

Some Republicans say they hope the Democrats don't force the bill through.

"The Republican State Committee supports this issue being decided by the New Jersey public," said Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for the New Jersey Republican State Committee. "It is our hope that this legislation--if taken up again--will not be passed by a lame duck session of legislators, but rather left to a decision of the people."

Advocates of marriage for same-sex couples are pushing to pass the bill before Gov. Jon Corzine leaves office Jan. 19. He's said he'll sign the bill. Gov.-elect Chris Christie says he would veto it.

Earlier Wednesday, rock legend Bruce Springsteen expressed his support for the legislation.

"I've long believed in and have always spoken out for the rights of same sex couples," he wrote on his Web site.

That puts him at odds with one of his biggest fans -- Gov.-elect Christie.