Madigan: Gay marriage 12 votes short in House
- Details
- Category: Chicago
- Published on Thursday, 14 March 2013 11:08
- Written by The Chicago Defender
- Hits: 128
Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, says passing a gay marriage bill out of the Illinois House will be very difficult, Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in Springfield Ill. Madigan says he backs the measure allowing same-sex couples to marry. The Senate approved it last month and it awaits a House floor vote. But Madigan says the House is 12 votes short. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A proposal to make Illinois the 10th state to allow gay marriage will face a "very difficult" reception in the Illinois House, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan said Wednesday as advocates vowed to continue pushing for the legislation.
The state Senate passed a bill last month — on Valentine's Day — allowing same-sex couples marriage rights. Gov. Pat Quinn has said he would approve gay marriage if it comes to his desk.
But Madigan, a Chicago Democrat who backs the bill, said the legislation is 12 votes short in the chamber. The Chicago Democrat said he's been contacted by Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, who opposes the idea of gay marriage.
Advocates of gay marriage have amped up pressure in recent weeks, gathering support from religious leaders and the business community. They've said it is a matter of equal rights and was a logical next step for Illinois, which approved civil unions two years ago.
"I do feel confident that the bill is going to pass the House," said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois. "We'll leave the actual vote counting to the leadership."
A main sponsor of the bill — Democratic state Rep. Greg Harris — said his tally differed from Madigan's.
"We are closer than 12 votes, but we still have work to do," he said.
