At the end of last week, New Jersey’s legislature legalized same-sex marriage in spite of the Governor’s threat to veto the legislation. He did that in no time:
The Republican governor returned the bill to the Legislature, saying he wants voters to decide whether New Jersey changes the definition of marriage. Democratic lawmakers say it's a civil rights issue that shouldn't be put up for a public vote. Lawmakers have until the end of the January 2014 legislative session to override the veto.
Of course, wanting the people to vote on the issue is ridiculous because (1) you don’t put people’s civil rights to a majority vote – in America of all places, and (2) it’s what conservative politicians (with hopes for higher office…) turn to whenever they don’t get their way with the courts or the legislature.
The legislature has now until January 2014 to attempt to override the veto, but unless they get a supermajority in this fall’s elections, that seems unlikely, given that the vote was close and too many “yeses” would be needed to succeed.
Too bad. Just after Washington became the 7th state in the nation to embrace marriage equality, New Jersey could have been number 8. That honor might now go to Maryland instead.
More at Towleroad.
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