TRENTON – The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard extensive testimony today before approving the marriage equality bill, A1. The panel approved the bill on party lines, 5-2, with two Democrats changing their previously held positions and one Republican – in her first day on the job – casting her vote with tears in her eyes.

Chairman Peter Barnes, (D-18), Edison, and Ralph Caputo, (D-28), Nutley, both reversed their previously held positions to release the bill from committee.

Barnes said he is leaning towards voting in favor of A1 when it comes before the full body; Caputo said he has already made his choice.

“All of us have our ideas about this particular issue,” Caputo said. “I think people have changed their mind (since) when this legislation was first proposed, specifically me.”

He said “prejudice (against homosexuals) was prevalent” in his day, but times have changed.

“I see this as a moment of truth to deal with this issue face to face,” Caputo said. “I’m very optimistic about the future of this legislation.”

Barnes said it was the job of legislators to “tackle the difficult issues, whether we agree or disagree,” and his Catholic faith had put Barnes at odds with this issue.

“As a Catholic, as a person who does try to follow my faith, I really struggled with this over the past (few) years,” he said. “Tradition has not always been good, and it has not always been fair. Tradition can’t control our vote.”

“I will absolutely be voting for this out of committee today, and I am absolutely leaning in favor of voting for this on the floor,” Barnes said. “The civil union is not working…I don’t think reasonable minds can even disagree on that.”

Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, (R-39), River Vale, in her first day on the job, was visibly struggling with the vote.

“This is an incredibly important topic,” she said. “I’ve had a total of four days to digest an issue I believe to be of the utmost importance… This is not something I want to venture into lightly.”

As she was doing research – 20 hours worth, she said – she came to believe that the issue in a nutshell came down to use of the word marriage.

“It’s a very deep seated concern about the utilization of the word ‘marriage’,” she said. “I do think that putting forth marriage as a cure-all, I don’t necessarily think that is a cure-all.”

In northern Bergen County, she has no real base that is asking for this legislation to be approved; she received three emails in favor and over 50 against. And, she said, “Nobody who was involved in this bill reached out to me,” but even then Schepisi seemed to be weighing the issue seriously.

With hesitation and tears in her eyes, Schepisi cast her vote against the measure.