Bush left out some things when critizing our court (Gay marriage)

[MelissaB]

Bush left out some things when critizing our court

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 11/5/06
BY BOB INGLE
GANNETT STATE BUREAU

TRENTON — It's hurry up and slow down for the New Jersey Legislature. Word has it legislation to give same-sex couples the rights of married people — without calling it marriage — could be in place before the year ends. Lowering our property taxes substantially, however, doesn't appear likely any time soon, although a report on that is due Nov. 15.

Senate President Dick Codey, D-Essex, and Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts, D-Camden, say there is not enough support for gay marriage, although both predict there will be some day.

President Bush criticized our court's same-sex couples ruling while promoting a candidate in Georgia. Curiously, he didn't mention it was a split 4-3 decision and the three in the minority calling for gay marriage were appointed by Republican Gov. Christie Whitman. The three are married and two are women, family people all.

Three of the four in the more moderate majority voting to leave the "marriage" decision to the Legislature were appointed by that former gay governor, Jim McGreevey. Bush is on record in '04 as saying states should be allowed to grant gay couples legal rights, which is essentially what the New Jersey court's majority did. You might say it adopted the Bush stand, but that wasn't made clear down there in the Peach State.

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