NJ Senate schedules gay marriage vote for Thursday

TRENTON — A vote has been scheduled for Thursday in the state Senate on a bill allowing gay couples to marry in New Jersey, state Senate President Richard J. Codey announced Tuesday afternoon.

A Senate vote had been expected in mid-December but was postponed when it was apparent the measure didn’t have the 21 votes needed to pass. It’s still not clear whether the bill will pass, but Codey said the bill will be considered.

“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,” said Codey, D-Essex. “”I’d like to commend both sides of this issue for their passionate advocacy thus far and the heartfelt testimony that we have heard.”

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr., D-Camden, announced last week that the Assembly Judiciary Committee would not hold a hearing on the bill, as had been expected. But he said he would send the bill to the Assembly floor for a vote, bypassing a hearing, if the Senate approves the bill.

The Senate has 22 Democrats — one short now that former Sen. Dana Redd has become Camden’s mayor — and 17 Republicans. Just one Republican senator, Bill Baroni Jr. of Mercer County, in expected to support the bill. But a handful of Democrats also oppose.