BREAKING NEWS: NJ Senate Marriage Vote Delayed

THIS JUST IN: The New Jersey Sate Senate vote on marriage equality that was scheduled for tomorrow is likely going to be postponed, to wait for the lower House to pass S1967 first.

Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) has agreed to postpone the vote until the Assembly Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on the measure.

While disappointed the vote was delayed, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) said it was a good thing that more members of the public would be able to have their say as the lower house debates the issue.

Roberts, an outspoken supporter of the legislation, added that no hearing has been scheduled as of yet and the bill is still being discussed within his caucus.

“At this point, this much is clear -- our civil union law has failed to live up to even the most modest of hopes and encourages unequal treatment of same-sex couples and their children,” Roberts said in a statement.

Lesniak said he still expects a vote on same-sex marriage in both houses before the end of the lame-duck legislative session in January. Advocates are pushing for passage of the bill before Gov. Jon Corzine leaves office Jan. 19. Corzine supports the measure, while incoming Gov. Chris Christie says he will veto it.

I think the State Senate wants to make sure that they are taking the last legislative action on the bill before it reaches Governor Corzine's desk. I think it will be great if the New Jersey General Assembly becomes the sixth lower state legislative body to pass a marriage equality bill this year (after Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York have all done so).