Illinois gay marriage to be pushed as amendment
Thu. January 3, 2013 10:29 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
Senate vote could come as early as Thursday
Chicago, IL -
In a procedural setback the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois, seems unlikely. Instead Illinois Senators will vote on an amendment that has the legalization of gay marriage attached.
State Sen. Heather Steans of Chicago failed to secure enough votes Wednesday in an effort to get a hearing that would allow HB 5170 to be considered by a committee.
To avoid further delay, Senate Democrats have added the legalization of gay marriage to HB4963, a bill that deals with automobile rentals and the Collateral Recovery Act.
The change will allow the Senate to vote as early as as 11 a.m. this morning.
"Everything can change at a moment's notice," Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov told the Windy City Times.
Both the House and Senate have until Jan. 9 to pass a bill before the end of the 97th General Assembly and new legislators are sworn in.
State Sen. Heather Steans of Chicago failed to secure enough votes Wednesday in an effort to get a hearing that would allow HB 5170 to be considered by a committee.
To avoid further delay, Senate Democrats have added the legalization of gay marriage to HB4963, a bill that deals with automobile rentals and the Collateral Recovery Act.
The change will allow the Senate to vote as early as as 11 a.m. this morning.
"Everything can change at a moment's notice," Equality Illinois CEO Bernard Cherkasov told the Windy City Times.
Both the House and Senate have until Jan. 9 to pass a bill before the end of the 97th General Assembly and new legislators are sworn in.