New Jersey Family Policy Council Founder & President, Len Deo issued the following statement in response to the New Jersey Republican State Committee adopting a resolution calling for the voters to be given the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage.

“I am very glad to see that Assemblyman Jay Webber, in his role as State Committee Chairman led the passage of a resolution calling for the people to have the right to vote on whether New Jersey should redefine marriage. This issue is too critical to the welfare of our state to have the lame duck legislature pass a piece of legislation of such magnitude,” Deo stated.

“I know Assemblyman Webber has been a co-sponsor on ACR 120, which would give the people of New Jersey the right to vote on defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” Deo added. Alison Littell McHose and former Assemblyman Michael Doherty sponsored ACR 120. Assemblyman Gary Chiusano joined Webber in co-sponsoring. In the Senate SCR 30, has been sponsored by Senators Cardinale and Oroho.

“There has been a big brouhaha about 200 prominent Democratic names on a letter calling for the vote. This is in sharp contrast to the over 140,000 petitions collected by our organization and the Trenton Group which is a coalition of many pro-marriage organizations. Add that to the recent 150,000 petitions presented by Catholic Parishes all across the state and you have over a quarter million people asking their legislators not to redefine marriage,” Deo continued.

“We believe many of the Democratic lawmakers feel the same way and that same-sex “marriage” should not be a litmus test for them as well,” Deo continued.

“Assemblyman Webber has done the right thing and we hope that the Democratic leadership will not make this a partisan issue. After all 61% of New Jerseyans believe same-sex couples have a right to live as they choose, but they do not have the right to redefine marriage for the rest of society,” Deo concluded.