The state Assembly in New Jersey passed a bill that would allow same sex couples to be married, but Chris Christie, the Governor of New Jersey, decided it would be best to veto the bill.
The Washington Post reports:
In returning the bill to the Legislature, Christie reaffirmed his view that voters should decide whether to change the definition of marriage in New Jersey. His veto also proposed creating an ombudsman to oversee compliance with the state’s civil union law, which same-sex couples have said is flawed and promotes discrimination….
…
“It’s unfortunate that the governor would let his own personal ideology infringe on the rights of thousands of New Jerseyans,” said Reed Gusciora, one of two openly gay New Jersey lawmakers and a sponsor of the bill. “For all those who oppose marriage equality, their lives would have been completely unchanged by this bill, but for same-sex couples, their lives would have been radically transformed. Unfortunately, the governor couldn’t see past his own personal ambitions to honor this truth.”
Senate Democratic leaders were more blunt in their criticism of the governor.
“He had a chance to do the right thing, and failed miserably,” Senate President Steve Sweeney said.
It seems as though he is putting his personal beliefs ahead of everything else.
Business Week reports:
“Christie, speaking to reporters on Feb. 14, said he didn’t believe Democrats could muster the votes for an override. He has said he would abide by the results of a referendum, and that he believes such a question probably would pass in New Jersey, where polls show a majority of voters support same-sex marriage.
Washington Governor Christine Gregoire, a Democrat, signed a bill on Feb. 13 to make her state the seventh allowing same- sex couples to marry. New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, New Hampshire, Vermont and the District of Columbia already permit the practice.”
Let’s see how this plays out – since some people believe Christie may one day be President of the United States.
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