Gay marriage battle moves to Maryland after New Jersey vote

[maddezmom]

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland | Fri Feb 17, 2012 11:40am EST

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (Reuters) - The gay marriage debate shifts on Friday to Maryland, where lawmakers will take up the issue in what promises to be a heated legislative session the day after a similar bill passed in New Jersey.

Already a contentious social issue, gay marriage legislation has gained even more prominence ahead of November's presidential elections, with advocates framing it as a civil rights issue and opponents saying marriage should be reserved for unions between a man and a woman.

New Jersey's Assembly on Friday sent legislation legalizing same-sex marriage to Gov. Chris Christie after lawmakers approved it in a vote on Thursday. Christie, a possible vice-presidential candidate, has promised a quick veto.

Maryland is shaping up as the next battleground, with its House of Delegates pressing forward with what is likely to be a passionate debate over a same-sex marriage measure. Lawmakers made little headway on Thursday other than adopting a single amendment to delay the effective date of the bill to January 2013 from October 2012.


more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/17/us-usa-gaymarriage-idUSTRE81F01520120217

[rocktivity]

1. Any plans for NJ Congress to override Christie's veto?

rocktivity

[maddezmom]

2. they don't have the votes at this time :(

Assembly Approves Same-Sex Union Without Delivering Votes for Veto Override
Supporters of marriage equality act vow to soldier on until they have veto-proof legislation

The effort to allow same-sex couples to marry in New Jersey may have died with its final passage by the Assembly on Thursday, since neither house has enough votes at the moment to override Gov. Chris Christie's promised veto.

While they basked in the legislative victory, supporters acknowledged that the battle is far from over and vowed to keep fighting.

Backers of the gay marriage bill said they will have almost two years to get the votes for an override, and they will work hard to do just that. The issue could bring new intensity to campaigns in at least two heavily Republican districts where Assembly seats will be on the ballot in November.

No one denies that Christie will win the next round with the "swift action" he reiterated Thursday afternoon he would take to veto the bill. But the legislature could have the final victory if the state Supreme Court uses the measure's passage to decide a constitutional challenge to New Jersey's current civil union law.


http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/12/0217/0059/

[JackBeck]

3. We have until of the end of the legislative session, January 2014, to get the votes.

We only need 3 in the Senate and we have a pretty good idea who is leaning our way.

In the Assembly, two members who have publicly voiced their support, were absent during yesterday’s vote due to long-standing commitments. So yesterday's vote would have been 44-33, leaving 10 votes for override. There are many persuadable votes on both sides of the aisle and will be strategic in how we get to the override.

We also have a concurrent lawsuit working its way through the courts and the judiciary leans heavily on legislative intent when making decisions.

[Hosnon]

4. +1. nt