A day after the New York senate resoundingly defeated gay marriage, New Jersey state senate President Dick Codey says he will allow a vote on his side of the river.
"The Hudson River might as well be a thousand miles wide," said Garden State Equality President Steve Goldstein, talking about the difference between the neighboring states.
But Codey, in a brief interview, was not optimistic.
He was asked, "Do you have the votes?"
"No," was his answer, though he quipped "we might do better than New York."
The measure will go first to the Senate judiciary Committee on Monday.
"Let the debate begin," said Chairman Paul Sarlo(D-Bergen) although Sarlo says he will vote againbst it. Nonetheless, he expects it to pass his Committee by a one vote margin.
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From there, Senate President Codey says a full senate floor debate and vote will come on Thursday, December 10th.
"What happens on the other side of the Hudson stays on the other side of the Hudson," reiterated Goldstein of Garden State Equality.
He called this a "watershed moment."
At the same time, Goldstein warned Democratic senators they'll face stiff primary battles if they vote against gay marriage.
"The reason we focus on Democrats is that democrats made promises to us," said Goldstein.
"We don't want to be stabbed in the back, we've had enough," added 'Babs' Siperstein of NJ Stonewall Democrats.
New Jersey's Assembly has yet to schedule a vote in this lame duck session that ends in early January.
