* Sun-Times…
Valentine’s Day might wind up being more than just a day of romance for Illinois’ gay and lesbian couples.
Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) wants Feb. 14 to be the day his legislative chamber votes to legalize gay marriages in Illinois.
“I’d like to pass it out of committee next week and pass it on Valentine’s Day,” Cullerton told the Chicago Sun-Times in a meeting Thursday with the newspaper’s Editorial Board.
Cullerton said he believes the legislation, Senate Bill 10, has the necessary 30 votes to pass and move to the House, clearing a major hurdle in making Illinois the 10th state to legalize same-sex marriages.
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- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 9:47 am:
Just make sure Heather “Vote Countula” Steans is not the one making sure 30 senators vote.
“One. One Senator! (lightning, thunder) Ha, ha ha. Two. Two Senators! (lightning, thunder) Ha, ha, ha”
- Anthony - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 9:55 am:
I have no problem with same sex marriage, but wouldn’t it be nice if the GA put the real problems of the state on the front burner? Pensions, health care exchanges, fixing draconian DCFS cuts, balancing the budget…how about some focus on these issues first instead of fighting the cultural wars?
- Roamin' Numeral - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 9:57 am:
==real problems of the state on the front burner==
It’s never a bad time to put human rights on the front burner.
- Cheryl44 - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 10:14 am:
Who knew Mike Madigan has a romantic streak?
BTW, equality is good for the economy.
- frmrILSIP - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 10:16 am:
And now I have the Batty-Bat song from Sesame Street stuck in my head. Thanks, OW.
- Wensicia - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 10:17 am:
It’s a nice gesture, but do they have the votes?
- dave - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 10:19 am:
**Who knew Mike Madigan has a romantic streak?**
This has nothing to do with Madigan– it will be voted in the Ssnate on the 4th, not the House.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 10:21 am:
- frmrILSIP -,
I apologize.
Quick, think of something I can have rambling in my head, then we’ll be even.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 10:21 am:
Cullterton, what a hopeless romantic.
- Cheryl44 - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 10:29 am:
Sorry Dave, I typed Cullerton in my head.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 10:45 am:
“To Senator Jim Oberweis,
Will you be our Valentine and vote for SB10?
Signed, Senator Cullerton and Co.”
- Commonsense in Illinois - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 10:47 am:
Well, I guess that’s a pretty good excuse to have when away from your spouse on VD. “But honey, I had to vote on Gay Marriage…Here, have a chocolate…”
- austinman - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 10:59 am:
I agree with Anthony, people getting shot all over the place, pensions, education funding, needs to be address before same sex marriage. By the way its also a human right to walk to school and be safe. Im for same sex marriage, but there are other real serious folks dying issues that needs to be addressed.
- shore - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 11:09 am:
Romancing taxpayers for a change would be nicer.
- Montrose - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 11:22 am:
*I agree with Anthony, people getting shot all over the place, pensions, education funding, needs to be address before same sex marriage. By the way its also a human right to walk to school and be safe. Im for same sex marriage, but there are other real serious folks dying issues that needs to be addressed.*
This concept that the legislature can’t or shouldn’t work on more than one issue at a time baffles me. Work on the pension and other issues goes on at the same time a vote for same sex marriage does. The “I support it, but they should not work on it until they do x” argument needs to be put to rest.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 11:50 am:
=== “Vote Countula”===
If I was John Kass, I would call her that forever. Hilarious.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 12:12 pm:
Thanks.
When you call out a “lame duck” senator, who is out of the country …
I wouldn’t be surprised if Sen. Steans does something again, that I may roll it out again …unless it “sticks” on its own.
- Frank - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 12:55 pm:
Montrose — I would normally agree with you, but because of the General Assembly’s stunning inability to deal with the problems Anthony mentioned above, I think making SSM “agenda item #1″ is going to fuel the perception that our state government is putting off dealing with major problems.
Look, I’m all for same sex marriage. But we already have civil unions, which means same sex couples currently have all the legal rights opposite sex couples have. We are now talking about a largely symbolic proposal to tweek a few words in the law — from “civil union” to “marriage” — not change the practical affect of the law, as the GA did during the lameduck session two years.
In John Cullerton’s and Heather Steans’ districts, SSM marriage is wildly popular and an absolute priority. Not so in the rest of the state. I believe the polls that indicate the majority of people of Illinois now support SSM. But I also suspect that even most of those SSM supporters wish the GA would deal with substance before symbolism.
- ChicagoR - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 1:16 pm:
” not change the practical affect of the law,”
Actually, if the Supreme Court strikes down DOMA this spring, the practical effect will change dramatically. Over a thousand benefits under federal law will be instantly available to those who are “married” under state law but not to those who are “civilly unioned”.
- WazUp - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 1:23 pm:
Holy hearts Batman! I wonder what Cullerton has planned for April Fools Day?
- Cheryl44 - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 1:24 pm:
Think of it like how CU couples can file their joint tax return online in IL. If we legalize same sex marriage now, when DOMA is overturned, we’re ahead of the game.
- Shoeless - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 1:34 pm:
Frank said:
“Look, I’m all for same sex marriage. But we already have civil unions, which means same sex couples currently have all the legal rights opposite sex couples have.”
No we don’t. We don’t have any of the 1,000 or so benefits (federal, i know) that same-sex married couples do. Property rights, inheritance rights, etc., etc., none of that is enjoyed by civilly unionized same sex couples (unless you have everything drawn up by a lawyer, which is an expense that married hetero couples don’t have to worry about because such rights come automatically with ‘marriage,’ whether it’s in a church or conducted by a buddy who got their officiant certificate from the back of Rolling Stone.
That being said, as and important and ‘real’ as this is to me personally, I wonder, is the Feb. 14 date an arbitrary one? Does he, or will he, have the necessary votes by then? And those other ‘real’ issues to be addressed — I have so little faith that this legislature will address them, meaningfully, so why not work on other things, as well?
And you know, the whole ‘I’m all for same-sex marriage,’ bit sounds a lot like ’some of my best friends are (black, jewish, gay, etc.)’
- LincolnLounger - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 3:56 pm:
I nearly spit out my Diet Coke, Willy. “Vote Countula”, indeed!
Let’s hope they have their ducks in a row this time.
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 4:28 pm:
It’s really SAINT Valentine’s Day–wonder how this sits with the Catholic and good number of (albeit split, admittedly) Christian Leadership in some Denominations, dare I ask, or is the answer both obvious and mixed as well? Nice call, Cullerton…sheez.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 4:32 pm:
- LincolnLounger -,
Happy Friday, Diet coke can be dangerous!
I keep seeing the video clip of her huddled with Cullerton, counting noses, then her horrible way of blaming a lame duck colleague who was known to be out of the country… but I digress …
Would be nice to see some GOP senators on the “yes” side. 1 or 2 yeses are not going to help the image.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 1, 13 @ 4:56 pm:
–It’s really SAINT Valentine’s Day–wonder how this sits with the Catholic and good number of (albeit split, admittedly) Christian Leadership in some Denominations, dare I ask, or is the answer both obvious and mixed as well? Nice call, Cullerton…sheez–.
C’mon, man, it’s a Hallmark Holiday. Believe me, they’re happy. If it passes they’ll make a boatload of money.
Or do you really attach some religious signifigance to Valentine’s Day?
- Anonymous in IL - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 5:58 am:
NO.NO.NO.
- Anonymous in IL - Thursday, Feb 14, 13 @ 6:00 am:
BOYCOTT THE DAY. ANOTHER INSULT TO FAMILIES. VOTE NO.