TRENTON - The marriage equality debate early featured a collision of ideas between veteran state senators Ray Lesniak of Union County and Gerald Cardinale of Bergen County.

"I want to soar like an eagle," said Lesniak, a Democrat in favor of marriage equality. "I want to be a leader. I want New Jersey to be a leader."

Cardinale opposed the legislation that enable same-sex couples to marry. He said brothers and sisters or mothers and daughters cohabitating would be discriminated against by enacting the law because they are not able to marry. 

"This bill relies on politically correct notions," said the Republican senator. "Gender and gender differences are self-evident realities. Gender has an important role to play in the development of civilized societies and the human race.

"This bill seeks to change thousands of years of human thinking," Cardinale added.

Taxes are the highest in the nation. New Jerseyans sruggle to find steady work. And yet, "This extremely controversial bill is the top priority of our legislative leadership." he bewailed.

The bill simply panders to well financed special interests, he said.