Sarlo Posts Marriage Equality Bill but will Vote No

            TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today posted S-1967, the Marriage Equality Act, on the Judiciary Committee’s December 7^th agenda, keeping a pledge he made to supporters of the act, but reiterated that he does not support the legislation and will vote against it. 

            Senator Sarlo reiterated his strong belief that same sex-couples deserve legal protections and stated that he supported legislation that allowed same sex couples to enter into civil unions and domestic partnerships.  Although he will be voting against the bill, Senator Sarlo believes that his committee will narrowly pass the bill with support from both Democrats and Republicans on the Committee.

            “I don’t support this legislation,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Wood-Ridge.  “However, in a democracy, I do not believe that one person should prevent any piece of legislation from having a fair hearing and an open vote in public.

            “By posting the bill, I am keeping the pledge that I made to the bill’s sponsors, Senator Loretta Weinberg and Senator Ray Lesniak,” said Senator Sarlo.  “I am also keeping my word to Senator Bill Baroni and Garden State Equality President Steve Goldstein who came to my Senate office to personally lobby me to post the bill.”

###