Time may be running out, but a bill that would legalize gay marriage in New Jersey isn't technically dead.
Advocates of gay marriage are pushing lawmakers to adopt the law before Jan. 19, when Republican Chris Christie becomes governor. He says he'd veto it. The current governor, Democrat Jon Corzine, says he'd sign it if lawmakers can get it to his desk in time.
Earlier this month, the state Senate canceled a vote on the issue when it became clear there was not enough support to pass it.
The issue was handed over to the state Assembly, which has not scheduled a hearing on it.
Albert Porroni, executive director of the Office of Legislative Services, says the Assembly could take up the measure without a
committee hearing.
The last-minute decision to pull the gay marriage bill off the voting calender was "disappointing" said Senate President Dick Codey (D-Essex) who spent hours working on his own speech for what he termed "a historic debate."
The lack of overwhelming backing for the bill scared supporters, but opponents weren't crowing either.
"I don't have a nose count but it's not gonna be a slam dunk, for or against," said Len Deo of the New Jersey Family Policy Council, which opposes gay marriage.
Supporters of gay marriage have a January 11th deadline -- the last day of this lame duck session of the Legislature. And a week later, Republican Chris Christie takes office.
Bloomberg, by the way, a former Republican stood next to Christie today and once again endorsed gay marriage, "I think it's none of the government's business. I think people should be allowed to marry anybody they want."
And Governor Jon Corzine, who said he would sign it, warned, "If this gets delayed, I think we're missing an historic opportunity."
