N.J. Senate postpones vote on same-sex marriage

A crucial Senate vote on same-sex marriage was called off today, raising more questions about whether the legislation has the support to pass.

Sens. Raymond Lesniak (D., Union) and Loretta Weinberg (D., Bergen), both sponsors of a bill to allow same-sex marriage in New Jersey, requested that a Senate vote scheduled for Thursday be delayed. Senate President Richard J. Codey (D., Essex) agreed to take the measure off the Senate's agenda.

The bill was approved in a Senate committee Monday, and lawmakers had hoped a full Senate vote Thursday would set the stage to make New Jersey the sixth state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry. But there are questions about whether supporters have enough votes to get the measure through the Senate.

It's unclear what the next step for same-sex marriage will be. While the sponsors asked for a hearing in the Assembly, none has been scheduled.