Christie Mum On NJ Marriage Bill

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie won't say what he'll do should the just-introduced marriage equality bill reach his desk. In a way, this is a better reaction that we might have hoped.

“They have a right to set their agenda, I’ll set mine, we’ll see who gets there first,” he said today in Camden . “When forced to make a decision, if forced to make a decision on it, I’ll make a decision.” In the past, Christie has said he favors the state’s civil unions law that was adopted in 2003. Legislative leadership said this week that they planned to make the bill a priority in the new session. The announcement puts Senate President Stephen Sweeney and his fellow Democrats on the offensive and again forces Christie to take a stand on a delicate political issue.

The bill's backers claim to have the votes to pass it in both chambers. Yesterday the Star-Ledger editorialized their expectation that Christie will block it.

Let’s face it: This is not likely to succeed while Christie remains in office. He will veto it, as promised, and obedient Republicans in the Legislature will fall in line behind him, as always. That’s the political lay of the land for the next two years, at least. If Christie wins re-election, this stalemate could drag on for six years. To most New Jersey citizens, that is simply not acceptable.