A Superior Court Judge in Mercer County ruled that New Jersey officials must begin officiating same sex marriages by October 21, according to a report in The Star Ledger.
Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson granted an emergency request by six gay couples, ordering state officials to begin officiating same-sex marriages on Oct. 21.
“The ineligibility of same-sex couples for federal benefits is currently harming same-sex couples in New Jersey in a wide range of contexts,” she wrote.
For example, the judge said, “civil union partners who are federal employees living in New Jersey are ineligible for marital rights with regard to the federal pension system, all civil union partners who are employees working for businesses to which the Family and Medical Leave Act applies may not rely on its statutory protections for spouses, and civil union couples may not access the federal tax benefits that married couples enjoy.”
Jacobson was asked to square the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in June striking down the Defense of Marriage Act with New Jersey’s own legal precedents.
Governor Christie’s press office declined to say, on the phone, if Judge Jacobson’s decision would be appealed. They said a statement might be emailed to the press later today. UPDATE: The Christie administration will appeal Jacobson’s ruling.
Cory Booker’s twitter love, @LynsieLee, has stepped up her devotion to her man. She’s asking her new followers to contribute to Booker’s campaign.
Booker has lots of friends in the entertainment industry. Four employees of Lady Gaga’s agent, Atom Factory, have contributed $21,400 to Booker’s campaign.
Hook her up Cory! Make an extraordinary effort for your extraordinary friend!
BuzzFeed has the story ( if female nudity or tattoos depicting guns offend you, do not click on that link) of Booker’s professed love of Lynsie Lee (if you didn’t click on the previous link, you really don’t want to click on this one which will take you to lovely Lynsie’s tumblr page.)
Booker follows @LysnieLee on twitter. They share public and private messages in the wee hours of the morning. BuzzFeed says their cyber relationship started because they were both in a film about twitter, #ffthefilm.
Governor Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker cut the ribbon for Newark’s Teachers Village this morning. Teachers Village is a $150 million project in the heart of the city’s downtown district that will house three charter schools, a day care center, 200 rental housing units for teachers and 65,000 square feet of retail space.
Ben Dworkin, Director of the Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics, introduces U.S. Senate candidate Steve Lonegan. September 24, 2013
GOP nominee for U.S. Senate Steve Lonegan took a break from bashing Newark Mayor Cory Booker and ObamaCare last night, and gently assaulted the psyches of the young Democratic students of Rider University in attendance at the University’s Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics Governing New Jersey presentation.
Lonegan’s personal story of raising a family and building a business in the 1980’s while going blind, was the context he set up to espouse his Libertarian philosophy and policies to the group of about 100 (mostly students) attending the event.
The Federal Reserve Bank’s quantitative easing policy of pumping $85 billion per month into the economy and keeping interest rates at record lows, was the focus of Lonegan’s remarks as he urged students to “play the hand you’re dealt” in life and avoid becoming dependent on government to solve their own, and society’s problems.
Lonegan shared how as a young man, he rejected a life of “being destined to the entitlement state”, of being sustained by disability benefits and food stamps, in order to build a successful life. “Interest rates were 10-12 percent in the 80’s, yet I was able to build a successful business and employ a lot of people, ” the candidate said, “I couldn’t do that with today’s regulations and economic policies.”
Christie leads 61 – 32 percent among women and 69 – 26 percent among men, 94 – 3 percent among Republicans and 69 – 23 percent among independent voters. Even 35% of Democrats intend to vote for the Republican governor.
Only 5 percent of likely voters are undecided and another 8 percent who name a candidate say there is a “good chance” they will change their mind in the next six weeks.
Booker has not made a public appearance in New Jersey since September 15
Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Steve Lonegan has gained significant ground over the last two weeks in his quest to replace the late Frank Lautenberg in Washington, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released this morning.
Democratic nominee, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, leads Lonegan among likely voters by 12 points,, 53%-41%, with three weeks to go before the October 16 special election.
Booker had a 35% lead over Lonegan in an August 7 poll of registered voters.
In a Rutgers-Eagleton Poll two weeks ago of likely voters, Booker was leading Lonegan by 35%.
Cory Booker is in Hollywood tonight where Jason Bourne and Batman are holding a big ticket fundraiser for the Superhero wannabe Senator.
GOP nominee Steve Lonegan is answering by holding a Red Carpet fundraiser in Newark, featuring stars from New Jersey — everyday people that make New Jersey a great place to live.
What: A Night with the Stars of New Jersey
When: Monday, September 23, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Kings Family Restaurant
557 Clinton Avenue
Newark, NJ 07108
Guests will be wearing some of the latest styles from:
