Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1998 12:48:49 -0700 (PDT) From: Ron Buckmire Subject: NEW JERSEY: news on same-sex marriage legislation Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 15:34:38 -0400 From: Subject: Same-Sex Marriage News (NJ/Hawaii) STEPS FOR DEFEATING ASSEMBLY BILL 706 AND SENATE BILL 1281(ANTI-MARRIAGE BILLS IN NEW JERSEY) At the end of the 207th Legislative Session, both Anti-Marriage Bills, Assembly Bill 2193 and Senate Bill 1376 died. At the start of the 208th Legislative Session, Assemblywoman Crecco, District 34 and Asseblyman Nicholas Felice, District 40 reintroduced their anti- marriage bill, Assembly Bill 706 and Senate Bill 1281 has been reintroduced by Senator Bucco and Senator Cardinale. Assembly Bill 706 has been assigned to the Senior Issues and Community Services Committee and Senate Bill 1281 to the Judiciary Committee . It is important that everyone call the committee members, especially if you live in their district and tell them not to vote A706 or S1281 out of committee if it gets a hearing. Reminder: the anti-marriage bill state three specific sections. 1. Persons of the same sex shall not marry. 2. A marriage solemnized in any other county, state or territory, if valid where solemnized, is valid here unless it is a marriage that would be prohibited and declared void in the state. 3. Marriage between persons of the same sex is against the public policy of the State of New Jersey. (This provision would codify into law that it is the public policy of this state of New Jersey to discriminate against lesbians and gays) Talking Points 1. Article four, section one of the US Constitution (Full faith and Credit Clause) requires each state to recognize the legal proceedings of every other state. New Jersey doesn't have the right to refuse to recognize marriages lawfully performed elsewhere. 2. This should not be posted because the Hawaiian Supreme Court isn't expected to rule on legal recognition of same gender marriages until 1998. Even then, it is possible that same sex marriages will not be recognized. Therefore, New Jersey would be better served in joining most of the other states and waiting to see what happens in Hawaii. What Else Can I Do 1. Tell your own legislator that you live in their district and that you VOTE. Ask for a commitment to not vote for the bill if it gets on the floor of the Assembly. 2. Call the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition at 732-828-6772 and tell us your legislator's response so that it can continue to compile a complete list of responses from all legislators. 3. Open your personal phone book and get 3 friends to do the same! Don't Forget 1. Call, fax, and write Speaker Jack Collins in the Assembly and President, Donald T. DiFrancesco of the Senate and urge them not to post any discriminatory bills against gay and lesbian citizens, if they get voted out of committee. 2. Call or write Governor Whitman and tell her to not sign any discriminatory bills against gay and lesbian citizens if they come across her desk. Assemblyman Jack Collins 63 East Avenue Woodstown, NJ 08098 phone: 609-769-3633 fax: 609-769-0049 Senator Donald T. DiFrancesco 1816 Front Street Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 phone: 908-322-5500 fax: 908-322-9347 Governor Christine Todd Whitman State House, Trenton 08625 phone: 609-292-6000 Assembly Bill 706 and Senate Bill 1281 (Anti-Marriage Bills) Sponsors and Committee Members in the Assembly Senior Issues and Community Services Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee Assembly Bill 706 Sponsors Assemblyman Michale Arone, R. D.12 Co-Sponsor Assemblyman Francis Bodine, R. D.8 Co-Sponsor Assemblyman Peter Barnes, D. D.18 Co-sponsor Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll, R. D.25 Co-sponsor Assemblywoman Marion Crecco, R. D.34 Prime Sponsor Assemblywoman Clare Farragher, R. D.12 Co-Sponsor Assemblyman Nicholas Felice, R. D.40 Co-Sponsor Assemblyman Scott Garret, R. D.24 Co-Sponsor Assemblyman John Gibson, R. D.1 Co-Sponsor Assemblyman Larry Chatzidakis, R. D.8 Co-Sponsor Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R. D.25 Co-Sponsor Assemblywoman Connie Meyers, R. D.23 Co-Sponsor Assemblyman Alfred Steele, D. D.35 Co-Sponsor Assemblyman Guy Talarico, R. D.38 Co-Sponsor Assemblyman John Rooney, R. D.39 Co-Sponsor Assembly Bill 706 Assembly Committee Senior Issues and Community Services Committee Members Party District Phone_____ Assemblyman Melvin Cottrell, Chair R 30 732-901-0702 Assemblyman Guy Talarico, Vice Chair R 38 201-265-6680 Assemblywoman Charlotte Vandervalk R 39 201-666-0881 Assemblyman Jeff Moran R 9 609-693-6700 Assemblyman Tom Smith R 11 732-776-8628 Assemblywoman Arline Friscia D 19 732-634-2526 Assemblywoman Nia Gill D 27 973-509-0388 Senate Bill 1281 Sponsors Senator Martha Bark, R. D.8 Co-Sponsor Senator Anthony Bucco, R D.25 Prime Sponsor Senator James Cafiero, R. D. 1 Co-Sponsor Senator Gerald Cardinale, R D.39 Prime Sponsor Senator Walter Kavanaugh, R. D. 16 Co-Sponsor Senate Bill 1281 Senate Judicary Committee Senator District Phone Senator William L. Gormley, Ch. R-2 609-646-3500 Senator James S. Cafiero, V.Ch. R-1 609-522-0462 Senator John O. Bennett R-12 908-389-0139 Senator Louis F. Kosco R-38 201-712-1221 Senator Robert J. Martin R-26 201-984-0922 Senator John J. Matheussen R-4 609-228-8552 Senator John A. Girgenti D-35 201-423-1229 Senator Edward T. O'Connor D-31 201-451-6120 Senator Raymond J. Zane D-3 609-848-1102 Senator Norman Robertsons R-34 973-684-2883 Senator John Lynch D-17 732-249-4550 HAWAII NEWS FORWARDED > >The BIG change---Hawaii's Campaign Spending > Commission has lifted the donation limit > of $1000 per person for an "issue" campaign. > The sky is now the limit, and North American > religious extremists are pouring money into > Hawaii's vote on a proposed constitutional > amendment. Dobson's group may be spending > the most in Hawaii, but the Christian Coalition > is raising money worldwide as well to use in > Hawaii. > > The key team standing up to this onslaught is > Protect Our Constitution > PO Box 235704 > Honolulu HI 96823-3511 > Donations to Protect Our Constitution are > not tax deductible. Donations are reported > to the campaign spending commission. Protect > Our Constitution is affiliated with the > national Human Rights Campaign. > > >Supreme Court---silent; no news on the > final appeal of the Baehr > case > >Legislature---not in session; most of them > running for re-election > >Governor---running for a second term; uphill > battle against a charismatic > woman Republican who might even > be lesbian but vigorously denies > it publicly > >Constitutional Amendment---if the vote were > held today, the "no" would win. > A "no" vote protects the equal > civil rights of gays and lesbians. > However, the amendment is confusing > to many voters and many more have > yet to realize that it is on the > November ballot. > >Call for a Constitutional Convention---more and > more people realize that such a convention, > held under the shadow of hysteria over > same-gender marriage, would be a disaster > for environmental protection, native > Hawaiian gathering rights, the right to > strike, the freedom to choose as well as > the freedom to marry. The only question > is whether this broad coalition of interests > can deliver the votes on November 3rd! > >The exact constitutional question: > > "Shall the constitution of the State of Hawaii >be amended to specify that the legislature shall have >the power to reserve marriage to opposite-sex couples." > >Note that it does not directly ban same-gender marriage, >but moves the topic away from protection of the bill of >rights in the constitution. Note also that it is a power >grab by the legislature at the expense of the independent >judiciary. As most people in Hawaii learn this, they >decide to vote "no". Can they be educated fast enough, >in 72 days? In the meantime, the opposition is working >hard to make this amendment a referendum of whether one >supports same-sex marriage (vote "yes" if you oppose >same-sex marriage is their campaign focus). > >The Role of Marriage Project Hawaii---MPH is operating >under a tax-deductible status that limits its lobbying >and election activities. It continues to support the >Baehr case, to educate the public on issues related >to same-gender marriage, and to build a network of supporters >in Hawaii. It's address is PO Box 11690, Honolulu, HI 96828. > > Tom Ramsey This message is sent to you by the New Jersey Lesbian and Gay Coalition-a statewide political and educational organization serving the l/g/b/t community. For more information about NJLGC please call 732-828-6772 or write: PO Box 11335, New Brunswick, NJ 08906 or emal: NJLGC@aol.com --- RON BUCKMIRE http://abacus.oxy.edu/~ron/ Asst. Prof., Math Dept., Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, L.A., CA 90041 ron@abacus.oxy.edu||+1 213 259 2536 (v)||+1 213 259 2958 (f)||Gore-Boxer 2000 Look for it in the