Marriage equality advocates are urging lawmakers to override Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state. That push may be paying off. Two Republican members of the Assembly have said they will vote to approve marriage equality. Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera (D-4), who was not part of the original vote on the legislation, told NJ Today Managing Editor Mike Schneider that she also plans to support the measure.
Mosquera explained that she wasn’t officially seated when lawmakers voted on the marriage equality bill. “I was going through my case so I wasn’t able to participate in the vote,” she said. But she said she would have voted in favor of same-sex marriage had she been able to participate.
Since the polls have shown a trend in New Jerseyan’s support of same-sex marriage, Mosquera said she’s very confident that the state will be moving in the direction of allowing the practice.
Christie has said he wants the issue on the ballot for voters to decide, but Mosquera thinks lawmakers should take the step. “The New Jersey people have spoken. It is something they agree to. It’s not a Republican issue, it’s not a Democratic issue. It’s about fairness and it’s about doing the right thing, Mike. And we should do the right thing,” she said.
The original vote was done on party lines, but recently Republican members of the Assembly Declan O’Scanlon and Holly Schepisi have said they will support marriage equality in an override vote. Neither were present for the original vote. Mosquera said she’s not surprised.
“It comes down to doing what is right for the people of New Jersey. And we were all elected to represent the state and I think that this is again moving New Jersey a step forward in moving in the right direction,” Mosquera said. “So I’m glad to hear that they will be doing something like that.”