From Rachel Maddow's Twitter feed: NJ Marriage equality bill passes both houses

[MarkCharles]

WNBC: Marriage equality passes New Jersey Assembly 41-33. Senate already passed it. Gov Christie says he'll veto


Jersey expected to approve gay marriage; Christie vows veto

[Auntie Bush]

1. Christie is a big fat fool.

He's as foolish as he is wide.

[MarkCharles]

3. I'm going to use that line, THANKS!!!! By the way...

I'm still wondering what the rules are for a referendum in NJ.

Can this happen this November, or will it take longer, as it would in Mass where 2 years has to go by before the results of a referendum can take effect.

[HockeyMom]

2. What a difference a GOVERNOR can makes

i.e., New York. Hey, Christie. How do you like your New Jersey citizens taking their money and getting married in NEW YORK????? Great campaign ad for your state economy, isn't it? Welcome to New Jersey. Go to NEW YORK if you want to get MARRIED!

I know. New York gays did the same before and spent their money in Connecticut. How does it feel to be sandwiched in between? YOU are the loser on this one.

[MarkCharles]

4. NY men and women also used to go to Ptwon, Mass

for their weddings.

Of course, those marriages were not recognized for years in NY.

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. What is the threshold to override the veto?

Surprised that he is siding on the wrong side of history on this. Well, kinda surprised....

[MarkCharles]

6. I would love to know...researching it now on-line.

I want to know how NJ works. I never lived there, and have gay relatives that did but none live there now.

OH, look what I found!!!

Two Republican senators, Jennifer Beck and Diane Allen, are expected to vote yes, as well. The bill needs 21 votes to pass. It should have them. But for it to be veto-proof, 27 votes are needed. That means three or four more Republican votes are required, if projected tallies hold.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/doblin/139200824_21_votes_don_t_equal_one_marriage_vow.html

Evidently, it works like this. The Senate in NJ needs 27 Senate and 54 in the Assembly votes to override a veto, and they need them by the end of Christie's term, 2014.

Democrats control the Senate, 24-16, and the Assembly, 48-32. For an override, they would need a two-thirds majority, or 27 supporters in the Senate and 54 in the Assembly.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-16/new-jersey-democrats-send-christie-gay-marriage-bill-he-opposes.html

Not impossible, now to find out how a referendum is put on a ballot. More research needed.

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. Thanks for digging that up.

Thats a pretty big stretch unfortunately. Maybe the outcry will be enough to swing a few.

[JackBeck]

9. A referendum will never happen.

It would have to go through a Democratically controlled legislature and the leadership has been very vocal about not putting civil rights up for a referendum vote.

We got 24 votes in the Senate on Monday. 3 more for an override is within our reach and we know who to target.

Tonight, while 42 votes was a welcome win, there were a few votes missing that we knew we had. Veto override is not going to be as hard as it looks, but what we also have is a concurrent lawsuit working its way through the courts and the judiciary leans heavily on legislative intent.

In other words, today was a huge victory in New Jersey.

[Puglover]

10. Congratulations dear Jack!

I know how hard you worked on this!

[JackBeck]

11. Among the many moving moments from yesterday's floor speeches

Was how our first African-American Assembly Speaker, Sheila Oliver, caucused many other People of Color to speak out in favor of marriage equality. Many of them shared their journey from how they were once unsupportive, but how they now understood that marriage equality for the LGBT community is a civil rights issue.

Thank you for always supporting me and believing in me, Puglover, even when it wasn't the easy or popular thing to do. I feel as though we've taken this journey together and I'm proud to share our victory with you. We live to fight another day and once Christie vetoes this legislation (the bill was delivered to his desk this morning) we will ramp up our work on getting an override.

[Ruby the Liberal]

12. What an uplifting post!

Not in New Jersey, but with you in spirit.

[William769]

7. Good for them!

Screw Christie! (well not literally).