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Speaker Madigan Claims Same-Sex Marriage Bill 12 Votes Short in House
Courtesy of The Chicago Tribune and published on March 13, 2013, according to House Speaker Michael Madigan, the bill that would make Illinois the tenth state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage could face a difficult road to approval this Spring. He believes the bill is lacking 12 votes it needs for passage.
Since 60 votes are required for a bill to pass the Illinois House, Speaker Madigan’s comment means 48 Illinois lawmakers could already be in favor of establishing marriage equality in the state. The same-sex marriage bill last month passed in the state Senate and has the approval of Democratic Governor Pat Quinn. Governor Quinn is on record as being in support and has indicated that if the bill passes the Senate and reaches his desk, he would sign it into law.
Gay and Lesbian Couples Face Indefensible Financial Discrimination
Gay and lesbian couples face civil and social discrimination in states where same-sex marriage has not been legalized. According to Suze Orman, personal finance expert and host of “The Suze Orman Show” on CNBC, in a special report to CNN, while that discrimination is inexcusable, the financial discrimination those couples face is indefensible.
Nine states and the District of Columbia have made same-sex marriages legal. And even though that is encouraging for those who believe that all U.S. citizens deserve basic civil rights, what is needed, according to Orman, is for the federal government to recognize same-sex marriage. Orman believes that would eliminate current financial discrimination.
Illinois Same-Sex Marriage Bill Clears House Committee
In a six-to-five vote, a bill that would make same-sex marriages legal in the state of Illinois cleared the House Executive Committee just before 10:00 p.m. February 26th, 2013. As reported by The Chicago Tribune, the bill now will move on to the full House. There the bill is expected to undergo its toughest test. Representative Greg Harris, a democrat from Chicago who is sponsoring the same-sex marriage bill, says the bill is needed because the status of those who are in civil unions often goes misunderstood. His belief is that all Illinois families should be treated equally under Illinois law.
If the bill passes the House, Illinois governor Pat Quinn has vowed to sign it into law. Illinois would become the tenth state in the U.S. to legalize same-sex marriages. The bill was passed in the Senate on Valentine’s Day. Less than two years have passed since the first civil union certificates were issued by the state.
Editorial Urges Ladies and Gentlemen of Illinois House to Step Up Regarding Gay Marriage Bill
Values that underlie marriage include providing reward for committed relationships, promoting stability within families, and protecting children’s interests. According to a Chicago Tribune editorial dated February 18, 2013, and titled “A Spouse is a Spouse,” allowing same-sex couples to be lawfully married would only serve to affirm these values, not devalue them.
In a major step toward marriage equality in the state of Illinois, the Illinois General Assembly two years ago voted to legally recognize committed partnerships regardless of the sexual orientation of the persons within the partnerships. In December, 2010, on the strength of that vote, Illinois legally recognized same-sex civil unions, becoming just the sixth state to do so.
Illinois Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill
The Illinois State Senate is continuing the drive toward marriage equality in Illinois. As reported by Reuters and published in The Chicago Tribune, the Illinois Senate approved a bill on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2013, to make same-sex marriages legal. The vote in the upper chamber was as follows:
- 34 in favor
- 21 against
- 2 abstentions
The bill now goes to the House. Although the fight there is expected to be more intense, if the bill makes it to the desk of Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, he has pledged to sign it. President Barack Obama has already made his opinion on same-sex marriage in his home state known. He is in support of the efforts of advocates for same-sex marriage and does not believe the 2011 approval by the state’s legislators of civil unions for same-sex couples goes far enough.
Push for Marriage Equality in Illinois Continues in Illinois Legislature
Democratic Illinois legislators have begun a legislative drive to make same-sex marriage legal in the state. As reported by Reuters and published in The Chicago Tribune, an Illinois State Senate committee has approved a measure to make same-sex marriage legal. The vote count was the following:
- Nine in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage
- Five opposed
Republicans opposed the measure while Democrats voted in favor of making marriage between same sex couples legal. This vote paves the way for a possible vote in the Senate upper chamber during the week of February 11th, 2013.
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