FollowUp 5: NJ Democrats Call for Marriage Equality

There are six living former governors of New Jersey.  Four are Democrats and two are Republicans.  Unlike sitting Governor Chris Christie, all of them told New York's NBC4 that they support marriage equality.

Democrats Brendan Byrne and James Florio told NBC New York Monday they endorsed efforts in the Legislature to pass it.

"I think the climate is right on a basis of civil rights," said Byrne, the oldest of the former Garden State governors. "I would ask that the Legislature pass it."

Florio told NBC New York, "I have no difficulties with it."

Tom Kean, one of the two Republicans among the six living former governors, called himself a libertarian on the issue.

"There are already people living together, as good neighbors and good people and contributing to the economy of this state, and I don't see any reason why they shouldn't be able to continue with the blessing of marriage," Kean said.

Former Govs. Jon Corzine and Jim McGreevey are both on record as supporting gay marriage.

Among the six former living elected governors, Republican Christie Todd Whitman has a slightly different take.

Spokeswoman Heather Grizzle told NBC New York that Whitman supports equal rights for gay couples, but described her position as more "nuanced" because she doesn't believe government should be defining who is married.

She said that Whitman believes government should simply issue some sort of document for legal purposes to couples, whether they are homosexual or heterosexual.

The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony from the public last week.  The state Assembly Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on Thursday, according to an e-mail from Garden State Equality's Stephen Goldstein.

This Thursday's Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing is the final hearing on the bill and the second step in bill's prospective passage.  We've had the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, capped by an 8 to 4 vote in favor of the marriage equality bill.  After Thursday's Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing, in the weeks ahead the bill will go to the full Senate and the full Assembly for final floor votes.

Thanks to Joe My God for the heads up.

9 January 2012, Original Pedantic Political Ponderings post.

25 January 2012, FollowUp 1.

26 January 2012, FollowUp 2.

28 January 2012, FollowUp 3.

30 January 2012, FollowUp 4.

3 February 2012, FollowUp 6.

10 February 2012, FollowUp 7.

13 February 2012, FollowUp 8.

18 February 2012, FollowUp 9.

21 February 2012, FollowUp 10.