History in Reverse – Governor Vetoes NJ Same-Sex Marriage Law After One Day

Posted by Kevin Farrell on Feb 17, 2012 in Politics | 13 comments

Chris Christie: You got served!

Just one day after New Jersey became the eight state in the nation to vote to legalize same-sex marriage, Governor Chris Christie has vetoed the bill.

The Washington Post reports:

Gov. Chris Christie has followed through on his promise to reject a bill allowing same-sex marriage in New Jersey by quickly vetoing the measure Friday and renewing his call for a ballot question to decide the issue.

The veto came a day after the state Assembly passed the bill. The state Senate had passed it on Monday. Christie, a Republican who opposes same-sex marriage, had vowed “very swift action” once the measure reached his desk.

“I am adhering to what I’ve said since this bill was first introduced — an issue of this magnitude and importance, which requires a constitutional amendment, should be left to the people of New Jersey to decide,” Christie said in a statement. “I continue to encourage the Legislature to trust the people of New Jersey and seek their input by allowing our citizens to vote on a question that represents a profoundly significant societal change. This is the only path to amend our State Constitution and the best way to resolve the issue of same-sex marriage in our state.

What more is there to say, really? Both the New Jersey Senate and State Assembly voted this week to make marriage equality the law in the state. The governor’s political weaseling is unfortunate and hard to believe, really.

Then again, if Christie had it his way, the civil rights movement would have been put to a vote by an all-white legislature during a WrestleMania match. So how surprising is this, really?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1365172585 James Rodgers Jr

I’m kind of clueless when it comes to law, but can his veto be…vetoed?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=508951055 Brody Rechlo

Nope. Only if someone above him vetoed him… which would be the Federal Congress and/or Obama. But neither can do it, since marriage rights is considered a state issue, rather than a federal one, so it sticks. I think that’s how it goes….
http://www.facebook.com/jzishka Jeff Zishka

He can’t be vetoed but if two thirds of both houses vote to overturn it then his veto is meaningless, but from what I have read they do not have the votes to overturn it. This is just another politician that is more worried about being re-elected than doing what is best for the people of their state.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Stacy-Mark-Phillips/528549470 Stacy Mark Phillips

WOW…….so this fat %^$&$ thinks something of this magnitude and importance, which requires a constitutional amendment, should be left to the people of New Jersey to decide….Didin’t we do that before w/ slavery and look were that got us, a divide nation..millions dead and whole cities destroyed………..I’m sorry but there are somethings that do NOT need to be decided for by the people…Equality and freedom is NOT ONE OF THEM….
http://twitter.com/Nathol99 Natalie Spiess

I’ve no words for how irritated I am right now. And to think, this is the man that many republicans hope will one day be president.
Dave .

Always a good idea for the majority to decide protection for the minority…(sarcasm)
American politics confuses me. All those elected people voted for the bill to pass, then one homophobic man stops it in its tracks. No wonder nothing changes quickly in America. Disgusting behavior. Move into the 21st Century. Canada has had same sex marriage since 2005 and guess what, our country is still running fine thanks. If you don’t want a same sex marriage, then don’t marry someone of the same sex. Pretty simple.
Anonymous

This magnitude? Seriously? Giving, perhaps, five percent if the population access to the same rights as everyone else. People who they will never meet, never even know they got married, that affects their lives not in the least. Is this “the magnitude” we’re talking about? Or by magnitude did he mean his abuse of the executive power to further his own political career? Now THAT I would have a referendum on…
http://www.facebook.com/matthewcarrico Matthew James Carrico

No Gay rights No Jersey Shore Trips this summer hit him where it hurts!

Anonymous

How about just no more Jersey Shore? That show is abysmal!

http://www.facebook.com/people/Dale-Winters/1058535718 Dale Winters

Well people can overturn this… In my understanding of the way that government works, aren’t the representatives in the state legislature representing the people? They have spoken Gov. Christie, why aren’t you listening? You are just clueless to what the people want. You can only stall so much…. then you won’t be able to stall anymore. Gay people are tired of being treated and told that they are second class citizens. Other countries that have made same sex marriage legal, do not have breakdowns and problems in families. It is things like this that are taught to children at a young age (to be intolerant of others) that break down the fabric of society. I wonder what he would do if one of his children came out to him? And if he talked to me like he did that one lady about public schools, I would be in jail because I would punch him right in the pie hole!
Anonymous

I’m appalled by the arrogance of people (often straight white Christian men) who think it’s appropriate to put civil rights of a minority to popular vote.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KXZJLY7N4B2DCO3GVMZGAWTGWQ Josh

It doesn’t suprise me because this man is one of those people that claims to be Christian, but goes against all of the teachings of Christ. But more to the point, why are we allowing Christian values be the only way?? What about those of us who don’t subscribe to your same views of morality?? It doesn’t make me a bad person, just different. Then again, you wouldn’t know anything about tolerance, Mr. Christie.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1441824062 Jennifer Faust

To be fair, there are far, far worse republicans out there than Christie. Don’t get me wrong, as a NJ resident and a bisexual woman, his policies drive me up the wall, but we do have civil unions, and he has claimed with this veto that he will make efforts to strengthen them. That is a start, and a lot more than could be expected from most of the current guys running for president in the republican party… It’s still bullshit though. It boggles my mind how he can claim to care about our rights then veto the bill. It’s true. It’s all politics. Hopefully when it comes to vote we can out vote him.

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