Weinberg Statement On Same-Sex Marriage Legislation

This afternoon, Senator Ray Lesniak and I requested that Senate President Richard J. Codey hold Senate Bill 1967. We also requested that Speaker Joseph Roberts schedule a meeting for the Assembly Judiciary Committee on A2978, popularly known as the Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act.

In light of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s historic passage of S1967, Senator Lesniak and I believe that the public needs another opportunity to engage legislators on this issue. Moreover, the Senate committee has substantially amended its version to include sweeping, additional protections for religious institutions. We believe that members of the public need to be afforded an additional opportunity to debate this new provision as well.

TRENTON – Because of the public interest in the vote on the proposed Marriage Equality Act, special arrangements have been made for public and media access to Thursday’s debate in the Senate chamber. The session is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

UNION – Senator Raymond Lesniak will be interviewed on Good Day New York this Monday to discuss New Jersey Senate Bill S-1967, which enacts the “Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act”. The details are as follows:

Monday, December 6, 2009

Senator Lesniak will be a guest of FOX-WNYW-TV5’s Good Day New York. His segment will air live at 7:15 AM.

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, a sponsor of the “Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act,” issued the following statement today, after the bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 7-6:

“A recent poll conducted by the Eagleton Institute of Politics determined that only 2% of New Jersey residents believe gay marriage is an important issue. But to those gay couples in a loving and committed civil union, it is an extremely important issue. It means they will be able to visit their loved ones in a hospital or make arrangements for their funerals without painful rejection, without questioning and delays caused by doubting Thomases unfamiliar with the meaning of civil unions.

“It means they will get the health and pension benefits they are entitled to without having to hire a lawyer to convince their employers that civil unions convey the same rights and obligations as marriage. It means they will be treated as human beings should be treated: with love, compassion, understanding and acceptance.

TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today posted S-1967, the Marriage Equality Act, on the Judiciary Committee’s December 7th agenda, keeping a pledge he made to supporters of the act, but reiterated that he does not support the legislation and will vote against it.

Senator 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. Although he will be voting against the bill, Senator Sarlo believes that his committee will narrowly pass the bill with support from both Democrats and Republicans on the Committee.

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, and a sponsor of the “Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act,” delivered the following floor remarks today before the vote on her bill. The bill was defeated by a vote of 14-20:

“I’m wearing my American flag tie today. I was inspired to wear it by Senator Bateman who wore his American flag tie when the Senate Judiciary Committee took testimony on the Marriage Equality Act. He wore it in memory of Pearl Harbor Day and the Americans who fought and died for our liberties and our civil rights. I commend Senator Bateman for recognizing and honoring our veterans.

TRENTON – At the request of the bill’s prime sponsors, Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) has agreed to postpone tomorrow’s scheduled vote on the Marriage Equality Act (S1967) until the Assembly Judiciary Committee has had time to hold a hearing on the bill.

“Senator Weinberg and Senator Lesniak have expressed their earnest desire to postpone tomorrow’s vote until there has been adequate time to vet the bill before the Assembly Judiciary Committee. I understand their desire to make sure this bill receives the thorough attention it deserves and therefore I have agreed to postpone tomorrow’s vote until further notice.”

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TRENTON – Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) made the following statement before introducing S1967, the Marriage Equality Act. The bill was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee today by a vote of 7-6:

“Mr. Chairman, I would like to personally thank you for living up to your commitment by posting this bill today.

“I also want to thank all my colleagues for the care and consideration they’ve given to this important issue.

TRENTON – Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), prime sponsor of the Marriage Equality Act (S1967), today issued the following statement:

“I have been working hard to achieve passage of my legislation granting full marriage rights to same-sex couples. While I understand that passions are running high on both sides of this issue, I would ask advocates to maintain the civil and courteous tone that has been established by legislators during these discussions. The overwhelming majority of advocates for and against my bill have focused their arguments on the merits of the legislation and presented them in the appropriate forums – contacting legislators through our district offices or speaking with us at the Statehouse. I thank you all for that.

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today announced that the full Senate will consider bill S1967 – the “Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act”– at the voting session scheduled for this Thursday.

“Given the intensely personal nature of this issue, I think the people of this state deserve the right to a formal debate on the Senate floor. I’d like to commend both sides of this issue for their passionate advocacy thus far and the heartfelt testimony that we have heard.”

The Senate voting session is scheduled for 2 pm on Thursday, January 7. Further information on accommodations for the media and the general public will be released tomorrow.

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TRENTON – Senator Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, and a sponsor of the “Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act,” delivered the following floor remarks today before the vote on her bill. The bill was defeated by a vote of 14-20:

“For almost 40 years, I was privileged to share a life with my husband.

TRENTON – The full Senate will reconvene on Thursday, January 7, at 2 PM to consider a board list that includes S-1967, the “Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act,” better known as the “Marriage Equality” bill.

“Tomorrow’s vote will determine whether tens of thousands of New Jerseyans are able to live in peace and happiness, the same way that other New Jerseyans have always been permitted to live their lives,” said Senator Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, a prime sponsor of the bill. “This vote is bigger than party, and it’s bigger than politics.”

“This vote is about the rights of gay couples from whom we heard heart-wrenching stories of pain inflicted, unknowingly and knowingly, as a result of our law which fails to secure for them the rights of marriage, in its import and in its application,” said Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, D-Union, a prime sponsor of the bill. “To guarantee these couples those rights, as required by the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, and to relieve them of the fear and pain from being denied those rights, I urge my fellow lawmakers to vote yes for marriage equality.”

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak, a sponsor of S-1967 – the “Freedom of Religion and Equality in Civil Marriage Act” – will be a call-in guest on the John Gambling Show tomorrow on WOR NewsTalk Radio 710 HD, to talk about his marriage equality legislation and the upcoming vote in the full Senate on Thursday.

Senator Lesniak will be interviewed live for 10 minutes, and his segment is scheduled to air at 7:05 AM.