Marriage Equality Moves in NJ Senate

Lawmakers in New Jersey announced Thursday afternoon that the marriage equality bill would be considered by the senate's judiciary committee on Monday and potentially reach the full senate for a vote later next week.

The motion in the judiciary committee suggests that the votes for the bill could be in place, given the Democratic leadership's reluctance to bring a bill to the floor if its fate were uncertain.

"Democratic officials previously said they would not put the legislation to a vote unless they had the support needed to pass it," reported The Star-Ledger.

However, senate judiciary committee chairman Paul Sarlo issued a statement on Thursday stressing that his decision to post the bill on his committee's agenda stemmed from his respect for the democratic process and desire to keep a pledge to colleagues, and not from his personal support for marriage equality.

"Sarlo reiterated his strong belief that same sex-couples deserve legal protections and stated that he supported legislation that allowed same sex couples to enter into civil unions and domestic partnerships," said the statement. "Although he will be voting against the bill, Sarlo believes that his committee will narrowly pass the bill with support from both Democrats and Republicans on the committee."

The agenda announcement on Thursday coincided with a rally in Trenton that drew about 650 supporters and opponents of the bill.

No further word was available regarding the plans for the bill in the assembly.

Should the bill pass both houses of the legislature, Democratic governor Jon Corzine has pledged to sign it before he leaves office in January.