New Jersey Senate Will Vote On Gay Marriage Next Week

The New Jersey state senate is scheduled to vote on legalizing gay marriage next week.

Sen. Ray Lesniak (D) announced Thursday on the Statehouse steps that the Judiciary Committee will take up the bill on Monday. The full senate will vote on the measure Thursday.

Coming just days after the New York state senate defeated a gay marriage bill, the New Jersey votes present a big risk. It's not clear if the votes are there.

Steve Goldstein, executive director of Garden State Equality, said yesterday they don't yet have enough votes.

"We're counting votes. We're not there yet in one of the houses but things have changed dramatically in the last 48 hours where the momentum has shifted our way," Goldstein said.

But advocates are eager to get a bill passed while Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, is still in office. Corzine has vowed to sign the bill. His Republican successor, Governor-elect Christ Christie, has vowed to veto it. Christie takes office Jan. 19, 2010.

The bill needs 21 votes to pass the senate, and Democrats hold 23 seats. At least one Democrat, Judiciary Committee Chairman Paul Sarlo, has vowed to vote against the measure.

In the assembly, Democrats have 48 of the 80 seats. They would need 41 votes to pass the measure.

Same-sex civil unions are legal in New Jersey.

Respondents to a recent Quinnipiac poll opposed gay marriage 49 to 46 percent.