TRENTON – They will need seven votes to get this contentious and much-opposed Vitale bill out of the Senate Budget Committee this evening.

They appear to have those votes plus one.

We’re guessing the following give the thumbs up signal:

Senator Brian P. Stack

Senator Sandy Cunningham

Senator M. Teresa Ruiz

Senator Steve Sweeney

Senator Joe Vitale

Senator Kevin O’Toole

Senator Jeff Van Drew

Senator Paul Sarlo.

Any one of those individuals can drop off, which will likely happen, otherwise we’re guessing Sweeney wouldn’t be on the committee.

Less likely to vote aye are:

Senator Sam Thompson

Senator Steve Oroho

Senator Jen Beck

Unknown:

Senator Tony Bucco

Although the bill is expected to come out of the committee this evening to head to the full senate, Speaker Vincent Prieto has said he won’t post the bill in the assembly.

It is expected that the bill will die.

Editor’s Note: The final tally was 11-1-1. Beck ended up as the lone no vote. Senator Jeff Van Drew abstained.