A day after the New York senate resoundingly defeated a bill that would've legalized gay marriage in the state, New Jersey senate President Dick Codey said he will allow a vote on his side of the river.
"The Hudson river might as well be a thousand miles wide," said an optimistic Garden State Equality President Steve Goldstein, speaking about the difference between the neighboring states. He feels Jersey will pass the bill. "What happens on the other side of the Hudson stays on the other side of the Hudson."
But Codey was not optimistic the outcome would be any different that in New York.
Cody said he didn't he had the the votes to pass the bill, but quipped, "We might do better than New York."
The measure will first go to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.
"Let the debate begin," said Chairman Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), who says he will vote against the bill, but still expects it to pass his committee by a one-vote margin.
From there a full floor debate and vote will come on Dec. 10, Cody said.
Goldstein called this a "watershed moment," and warned Democratic senators that they would face stiff primary battles if they vote against gay marriage.
"The reason we focus on Democrats is that Democrats made promises to us," said Goldstein.
New Jersey's Assembly has yet to schedule a vote in this lame duck session that endsin early January.
