Marriage Equality Not Yet on Agenda for NJ Leg's Lame Duck Session

New York, NY —

In Trenton today, hundreds of Gay Marriage boosters are expected to make an 11th hour push for a contested measure by rallying at the state capital. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has this report.

REPORTER: With just two voting sessions left, the lame duck Assembly and Senate will consider more than 120 bills. So far the Marriage Equality bill is not among them. Gay marriage backers had hoped to get a hearing before the Assembly this week after winning key support from the Senate Judiciary panel. Now, Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts has said his house will only vote on the bill after it has won passage by the full Senate. In the Senate Democrats have a 23 to 17 edge and the top leadership supports the bill. But at least four Democrats have signaled no votes and only one Republican has publicly pledged to support gay marriage making passage an uphill climb. Gay marriage co-sponsor Senator Ray Lesniak says regardless of any head count he will ask Senate President Dick Codey to post the bill for a vote before the lame duck session ends and Republican Chris Christie, who opposes gay marriage, is innaugurated as Governor. For WNYC I am Bob Hennelly.

REPORTER: Among the last minute bills being considered in Trenton today, there is a measure to grant all New Jersey High school graduates, no matter their immigration status, the in-state tuition break to attend state colleges. Also before legislators are bills to toughen penalties for domestic violence and jury tampering.