New Jersey Senate President Stephen
Sweeney on Friday predicted that lawmakers will approve a proposed
gay marriage bill, but added that he expects Republican Governor
Chris Christie will veto the measure.
Sweeney made his remarks during an
appearance on WNYC's the Brian
Lehrer Show.
Both houses of the New Jersey
Legislature are expected to vote on the bill next week: the Senate on
Monday and the Assembly on Thursday.
“It is absolutely going to pass on
Monday, and I expect it to pass the Assembly on Thursday, and it's
going to go the governor's desk,” he said.
Sweeney voted against a marriage
equality bill in 2010, but has since reversed course, calling his
original vote “wrong.”
He also conceded that he does not have
the 27 votes in the Senate needed to override the governor's veto,
but pledged his support to the effort.
“If the governor vetoes the bill,
we're gonna fight to override the governor,” Sweeney said. “I
have two years to do it almost, so that gives us plenty of time to
work on people.”