HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A MERRY F-U!
At 4:40 pm, the New Jersey State Senate today confirmed a bizarre caste system, killing the hopes of gay couples and stifling the dreams of gay kids to one day get married.
On the heels of Republican'ts, the cash-strapped state will spend money trying in vain to "fix" civil unions and to teach civil unions to school children. Go figure.
Some Democrats were awol, including Sweeney, the upcoming Senate President. Six others didn't make the grade.
Indeed, the wisdom of Solomon came from a Republican Senator, Bill Baroni, who argued a balance of liberties formulation worthy of Sandra Day O'Connor. A last-minute letter from a collection of clergy didn't persuade individual Senators from voting their 'private beliefs', although fewer and fewer were willing to even give that "reason", preferring the silence of cowards.
Only the tragic Senator Cardinale spoke at any length, spewing his Catholic doctrines, sometimes dressed-up, sometimes not.
In the end, no one from the National Party intervened on behalf of civil rights, to articulate a clear legal approach, or even political cover, for legislators in search of one. The fulcrum instead rested with Julian Bond, who had 10 minutes testimony in a prior hearing.
History's honor and shame roll, below the fold.
YES (14)
Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic)
Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex)
Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex),
Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (D-Union), co-sponsor
Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex)
Sen. Teresa M. Ruiz (D-Essex)
Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham (D-Hudson)
Sen. Brian P. Stack (D-Hudson)
Sen. Nia H. Gill (D-Essex)
Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), co-sponsor
Sen. Robert M. Gordon (D-Bergen)
Sen. Nicholas P. Scutari (D-Union)
Sen. Joseph F.Vitale (D-Middlesex)
Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer)
NO (20)
Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May)
Sen. Ronald L. Rice (D- Essex)
Sen. John A. Girgenti (D-Passaic
Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson) .
Sen. Fred H. Madden (D-Gloucester)
Sen. Shirley K. Turner (D-Mercer)
Sen. Robert W. Singer (R-Ocean)
Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Morris)
Sen. Christopher Bateman, (R-Somerset)
Sen. Tom Kean Jr. (R -Union)
Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth )
Sen. Joseph M. Kyrillos (R-Monmouth)
Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen)
Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Hunterdon)
Sen. Kevin J. O'Toole (R-Essex)
Sen. Philip E. Haines (R-Burlington)
Sen. Christopher J. Connors (R-Ocean)
Sen. Anthony R. Bucco (R-Morris)
Sen. Steven V. Oroho (R-Sussex)
Sen. Sean T. Kean (R-Monmouth)
ABSTENTIONS (3)
Sen. Paul A. Sarlo (D-Bergen)
Sen. Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester)
Sen. James Beach (D-Camden)
DID NOT ATTEND SESSION (2)
Sen. Diane B. Allen (R-Burlington)
Sen. Andrew Ciesla (R-Ocean)
Sarlo voted against in committee, although he kept opponents from putting up for a referendum...
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Committed Gay Couples Get Second Class Ticket from Dem Majority Senate
