Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyNovember 5th, 2013
The Illinois House of Representatives has just approved a marriage equality bill in a 61-54 vote. The bill is slightly different from the one passed by the state Senate last February. Earlier today the bill was amended to change its effective date to June 1, 2014, rather than thirty days after signing by the governor. This allowed the required threshhold for passage to drop from 71 votes to 60. The bill will now go back to the Senate for its quick approval — likely before this evening is over — before heading to Gov. Pat Quinn, who has said he is eager to sign it into law.
Eleven Democrats voted against the measure. They were Reps. Daniel V Beiser, John E. Bradley, Kartherine Cloonen, Jerry F. Costello, II, Monique Davis, Mary Flowers, Eddie Lee Jackson, Sr., Charles Jefferson, Frank Mautino, Brandon Phelps, and Sue Scherer. Two others voted “Present” — Reps. Rita Mayfield and Derrick Smith — but because of the sixty-vote threshhold needed for passage during the veto session, their votes were effectively “no” votes.
Three Republicans voted in support of marriage equality. They were Reps. Tom Cross, Ron Sandack, and Ed Sullivan, Jr.
Illinois will become the fifteenth state, plus the District of Columbia, to provide marriage equality for same-sex couples.
Update (5:05 p.m. CST): Barely an hour has passed, and the Senate has given its concurrence to the House bill in a 32-21 vote. It now goes to the governor.
Update (5:30 p.m. CST): The Chicago Sun-Times says, “Administration sources predicted the governor, once the bill arrives on his desk, would hold a bill-signing ceremony within the next week or two.”
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Richard Rush
November 5th, 2013
And Laurie Higgins has failed again.
Ray
November 5th, 2013
Jumping up and down here!
Jaft
November 5th, 2013
Finally! *My* state.
Same Ray, same.
Lindoro Almaviva
November 5th, 2013
That is if new Mexico does not get there first
Sir Andrew
November 5th, 2013
This just pisses me off. We were so sure that we in Hawaii would be state number 15. Pooh!
The jerks from the religious right are doing everything in their power to slow things down over here in the special session, stopping the House from getting to a vote. They’re calling it a people’s filibuster, proving that they don’t understand the meaning of the word ‘filibuster’. Hopefully there will be a vote this week. The bill they pass (pretty certain we have the votes) will be watered down a lot from the Senate version already passed, so it will have to go to conference to take out all the annoying crap. Then both houses can vote again. I guess there’s nothing wrong with being Sweet 16.
Sir Andrew
November 5th, 2013
One more thought: Illinois’ marriages won’t begin until June 2014, while ours in Hawaii will start in the middle of this month (if we pass it). In that case who is REALLY number 15? Hmmm???
Ray
November 5th, 2013
Just so the governor doesn’t get hit by a bus between now and signing day.
Josh
November 5th, 2013
The monitor in the picture has to be from the 80’s or 90’s. Is it something official?
Timothy Kincaid
November 5th, 2013
Josh,
That is the board that is within the House of Representatives mounted on the wall that shows the votes of every member. They press a button and the monitor lights up with their vote.
Mark F.
November 5th, 2013
Kudos to the 3 Republicans who put this bill over the top. Shame on the Democrats who didn’t have the votes to pass it on their own.
Matt
November 5th, 2013
I’m so happy (and still shocked) that my home state actually managed to pull this off!
TomTallis
November 6th, 2013
Two weeks before the governor signs it? WTF? What happened to all his enthusiasm?
Or is he doing this to thwart some sort of Christian hate-machine ballot initiative which is, apparently, likely?
Jim Burroway
November 6th, 2013
It doesn’t matter when he signs it since it won’t take effect until June of next year, no matter what. I think it is just so they can organize a more high profile signing ceremony.
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