Illinois House Extends Marriage Equality Bill Deadline to August 31st
Source: Illinois Observer
(Springfield, IL) – Insider: The Illinois same sex marriage bill had its deadline date for approval extended into the summer.
House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) acted quietly on Friday night before the House adjourned to extend the bill’s deadline for approval until August 31.
State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) told a packed House chamber on Friday evening that he had to put off a vote on the proposal until November.
However, were Governor Pat Quinn to call lawmakers back to Springfield in the summer for a special session to address pension reform, which also was left without resolution, he could include Senate Bill 10 in a special session proclamation.
If Quinn declines to include marriage equality in any order to lawmakers to return to Springfield, Madigan could call a House special session of his own at the same time to take up the legislation, an insider noted.
“It’s a fascinating move,” said one, long-time lobbyist. “It suggests that there is plan to get it done.”
A veteran Democratic lawmaker briefed on Madigan’s step said, “A potential summer special session would channel the energy and anger of marriage equality backers into productive versus destructive advocacy.”
Nevertheless, during a summer session, House lawmakers would need to amend the bill and change the effective date from “30 days” from a gubernatorial signature to June 1 in order to avoid a 3/5th or 71 vote requirement, an insurmountable hurdle.
Amending the bill’s effective date would also require an Illinois Senate vote to concur with such a change.
A deadline extension by itself resolves none of the political problems associated with the bill’s opponents, but it may give advocates an incentive to work to resolve them before summer’s end.
Read more: http://www.illinoisobserver.net/2013/06/01/madigan-grants-same-sex-marriage-bill-approval-deadline-extension/
Illinois House leader Michael Madigan approved an extension on Bill SB0010, The Religious Equality and Marriage Fairness Act. The deadline extension goes until August 31st.
Governor Pat Quinn can call for a special session to bring up a vote on the bill. We can contact his offices and encourage him to do so here:
Springfield
Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-782-0244
TTY: 888-261-3336
Chicago
Office of the Governor
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph, 16-100
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-814-2121
Contact Governor Quinn and tell him to bring up a vote on a bill he vowed to sign!
Please share this and tell others to make the call!
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