UPDATE: Resolution Urging State Legislature to Override Christie Same-Sex Marriage Veto Pulled for Lack of Support

UPDATE:

A resolution urging state Legislators to override Gov. Chris Christie’s veto of a bill recognizing same-sex marriage died before the Sept. 24 meeting because the all-Democratic Township Council did not support it, its sponsor said.

Councilman Theodore Chase, D-Ward 1, said he pulled the resolution because he knew it wasn’t going to get the five votes needed to pass on the nine-member panel.

“In general, if it’s not going to pass, it’s better to not bring it up,” Chase said. “I knew I had four votes, I thought I had another one, but I was told I didn’t.”

Chase said he would bring the measure back up at a Democratic council members’ caucus. The group gathers prior to each council meeting, he said.

Chase said he did not know when that would be.

“We have a campaign to conduct,” he said.

Chase is one of five council members up for re-election this fall.

The resolution was part of the council’s consent agenda, usually routine items that are voted on all at once.

Chase suggested the resolution at the request of a constituent, he said.

“A guy who’s been quite politically active, he’s down in Washington now, but he’s keeping in touch with everything in Franklin,” Chase has said. “He suggested this and I looked at it and thought it was a good idea, and other council people thought it was a good idea, so, I did it.”

The day before the meeting, Chase said he thought had support for the bill.

“I know I have four votes, I’m pretty sure of the fifth vote, and I might get seven or eight. I don’t know.”

The resolution notes that Christie vetoed the same-sex marriage bill in 2012, before the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act as unconstitutional, and that 60 percent of state residents favor legalizing same-sex marriage.

“The exclusion of gay marriage in our state puts New Jersey at a competitive disadvantage because our State does not benefit from the skills of persons who may wish to reside here but prefer to live elsewhere so that they may benefit from the advantages resulting from the legality of gay marriage in other states, thereby depriving New Jersey of talent in our workforce,” the resolution reads.

Chase said North Brunswick has enacted a similar resolution.

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