Dear Editor:
This past week of the new legislative session has been extremely puzzling to me. After the November elections, our elected representatives pledged to take on the pressing issues facing our state: jobs, unemployment, education reform and taxes. Instead, they spent their first full week playing a game of political theater passing their “number one priority,” gay marriage. A bill they knew would be vetoed by the Governor. In fact, since Governor Christie was elected in 2009 and the legislature failed to pass a gay marriage bill under then lame-duck Governor Corzine, he has pledged to veto any further efforts to redefine marriage. He has been consistent in calling for a public referendum to let the people of New Jersey decide this important social issue. If the 120 legislators in Trenton are concerned about giving gay marriage a chance in our state, they would pass a bill proposing a public referendum. Judging by the ‘Yes’ votes and the Republicans who have called for such a referendum, it would pass by the needed supermajority to be on the November ballot. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, if you want a chance to settle the gay marriage debate in New Jersey, you should be in favor of a referendum on the November 2012 ballot. Maybe then, the legislature can begin to work on the people’s business and pass the reforms needed to continue our recovery.
Bill Murphy