The New Jersey state senate will vote on whether to legalize gay marriage this Thursday, Senate President Richard Codey announced today.
If the bill passes the senate — something that is far from certain — it must still pass the state assembly. Both houses only have two voting sessions left, scheduled for Thursday and the following Monday, before Gov-elect Chris Christie takes office on Jan. 19.
Christie opposes gay marriage while the current governor, Jon Corzine, has promised to sign such a bill.
Although Democrats hold a majority in both houses, not all support gay marriage. But supporters don’t have time to wait for more votes.
One of the bill’s sponsors, Sen. Ray Lesniak (D), told TPM that if the bill fails, he would try to legalize gay marriage by taking it to the state supreme court.
Thursday’s voting session begins at 2 p.m.
Late update: If the senate passes the bill, the assembly will vote on it Monday, the Speaker Joseph Roberts announced today.
“As a strong supporter of marriage equality, I’m pleased to see the legislation will get a debate and a vote on Thursday in the Senate,” he said in a statement. “If the Senate approves it, I will take the extraordinary step of bringing the bill directly to the Assembly floor for a vote during our Monday voting session.”
A spokesman for Codey’s office said she expects debate to begin in the Senate at around 3 p.m. Thursday.
