Is New Jersey Next for a Marriage Referendum?
When New Jersey Governor Chris Christie vetoed the marriage equality bill passed by the legislature earlier this year, he said the issue should be put to voters in a referendum.
“The fact of the matter is, I think people would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights rather than fighting and dying in the streets in the South,” he said at the time.
Lawmakers and advocates expressed offense at the idea of putting civil rights to a popular vote, and the recent success of marriage equality referendums in Maine, Maryland and Washington has not changed their minds.
“I still don’t believe we should put civil rights onto a referendum,” Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, a sponsor of the marriage equality legislation, told the Star-Ledger.
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Chris Christie ignores Chris Gregoire’s outreach on marriage equality
ThinkProgress has learned that Christie has yet to respond to a letter from fellow Governor Chris Gregoire (D-WA) offering the blunt-speaking Christie advise on the issue.
In the letter, dated Jan. 31, 2012, Gregoire wrote, “I have been on a personal journey, because while I am a Governor, I am also a Catholic.” “If you would like to talk, please give me a call.” The correspondence also contained a copy of Gregoire’s remarks upon announcing her support for marriage equality. Gregoire has received “no response to date,” her office confirms.
Chris Gregoire Pledges To Contact Chris Christie Over Gay Marriage Legislation
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire (D) pledged to make an appeal to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) over same-sex marriage legislation.
Gregoire, who is expected to sign a recently passed gay marriage bill on Monday, said she’s been touched by the response she’s received over her support of same-sex marriage. During a radio interview with the Wall Street Journal program The Daily Wrap, Gregoire said she “would feel very comfortable” sharing her experience as a same-sex marriage proponent with Christie.
“I respect him as a fellow governor,” Gregoire said. “I would feel very comfortable sharing with him my personal journey, the overwhelming response that I’ve received and how good I feel about myself today.”
