Will Illinois Be #13?

Jim Burroway

May 20th, 2013

That’s what this report from Windy City Times suggests:

Sponsors have until May 31 to pass the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act,” which would allow all couples, regardless of their gender, to marry. Failing that deadline, the bill’s passage would be delayed for months. LGBT groups pushing for the bill say they are ready to see it come up for a vote.

“I have absolutely no doubt we’re going to be done with this by May 31,” said Jim Bennett, Midwest regional director for Lambda Legal. “I believe that this bill is going to pass.”

Bennett declined to give a specific vote count, but said that he expected the bill could be called and passed any day. Rick Garcia, policy advisor for The Civil Rights Agenda, said he thinks the bill has the 60 votes needed for passage in the House.

The Illinois Senate passed the bill on Valentine’s Day in a 34-21 vote, but the House’s chief Sponsor Greg Harris has held off calling for a vote until there are enough votes to pass it. Gov. Pat Quinn has said that he will sign the bill into law.

Matt

May 20th, 2013

It’s been an agonizing couple of months watching this play out. Here’s hoping we can get to the finish line.

Hyhybt

May 20th, 2013

Four states, voluntarily, in one month would be amazing. Almost as great as if the Supreme Court made the other 37 go along.

DaveM

May 21st, 2013

Capitolfax.com is the single best “inside-baseball” source for Illinois politics. The state of play last week was that Harris didn’t think he was quite there yet.
But Madigan wants the bill to pass, Quinn wants the bill to pass (though tbh, he’s probably more weighing it down than helping); the real problem for Harris is the contingent of ministers that are lobbying against it.
In the end, though, Speaker Madigan is the most powerful man in IL, now that Mayor Daley is retired- and what Madigan wants, he gets.
http://capitolfax.com/2013/05/13/two-votes-shy/

Mark F.

May 21st, 2013

If it comes to a vote, it will pass. Sadly, just one black member supports the bill right now.

Scott S.

May 21st, 2013

Yes, NOM’s strategy of racial division has been worked to the hilt here in IL. However, there are 4 members of the Illinois House Black Caucus who support SSM and 5 who are leaning in favor.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/20236151-418/black-illinois-house-members-split-on-gay-marriage-bill-sun-times-survey-finds.html

jerry

May 25th, 2013

It’s a shame we have to nickel and dime equality state by state, but on the bright side we could establish a lottery to see which state will be the next one to set Maggie and Brian’s hair on fire.

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