TRENTON – The N.J. Senate failed to pass marriage equality in 2009, but with several legislators turning around on the issue, the body today passed S1, the Marriage Equality and Religious Freedom Act.
Among lawmakers who changed their votes this time around were state Sen. President Steve Sweeney, (D-3), West Deptford, who called his 2009 abstention the biggest mistake of his political career. He was joined in favor of the bill by state Sen. Paul Sarlo, (D-36), Wood-Ridge; Jim Beach, (D-6), Voorhees; and Diane Allen, (R-7), Edgewater Park, who also abstained in 2009. Allen was not present for that vote as she was fighting cancer.
Former ‘no’ votes who favored the Democrats’ biggest legislative priority of the new session were state Sens. Shirley Turner, (D-15), Lawrenceville; Nick Sacco, (D-32), North Bergen; Fred Madden, (D-4), Washington Township; and Jennifer Beck, (R-11), Red Bank.
Two Republicans voted in favor of the bill (Allen, Beck), while two Democrats voted against it (Jeff Van Drew, Ron Rice).
Below is the breakdown of the 24-16 vote:
‘YES’ VOTES
Jim Whelan, (D-2), Atlantic City
Steve Sweeney, (D-3), West Deptford
Fred Madden, (D-4), Washington Township
Donald Norcross, (D-5), Camden
Jim Beach, (D-6), Voorhees
Diane Allen, (R-7), Edgewater Park
Jennifer Beck, (R-11), Red Bank
Linda Greenstein, (D-14), Plainsboro
Shirley Turner, (D-15), Lawrenceville
Bob Smith, (D-17), Piscataway
Barbara Buono, (D-18), Metuchen
Joe Vitale, (D-19), Woodbridge
Ray Lesniak, (D-20), Elizabeth
Nicholas Scutari, (D-22), Linden
Richard Codey, (D-27), Roseland
M. Teresa Ruiz, (D-29), Newark
Sandra Cunningham, (D-31), Jersey City
Nick Sacco, (D-32), North Bergen
Brian Stack, (D-33), Union City
Nia Gill, (D-34), Montclair
Nellie Pou, (D-35), North Haledon
Paul Sarlo, (D-36), Wood-Ridge
Loretta Weinberg, (D-37), Teaneck
Robert Gordon, (D-38), Fair Lawn
‘NO’ VOTES
Jeff Van Drew, (D-1), Middle Township
Dawn Marie Addiego, (R-8), Evesham
Chris Connors, (R-9), Lacey Township
James Holzapfel, (R-10), Toms River
Sam Thompson, (R-12), Old Bridge
Joe Kyrillos, (R-13), Middletown
Kip Bateman, (R-16), of Branchburg
Tom Kean Jr., (R-21), Westfield
Mike Doherty, (R-23), Oxford Township
Steve Oroho, (R-24), Franklin Township
Tony Bucco, (R-25), Boonton
Joe Pennacchio, (R-26), Montville
Ron Rice, (D-28), Newark
Robert Singer, (R-30), Lakewood
Gerry Cardinale, (R-39), Demarest
Kevin O’Toole, (R-40), Cedar Grove
