Is momentum building?
Friday, Nov 1, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* David Ormsby…
State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the measure’s chief House sponsor, strongly hinted on Wednesday night that he plans to call the bill for a vote during the last week of the fall veto session which begins on Tuesday, November 5.
“I think my colleagues should be prepared next week to make history on marriage equality,” Harris told The Illinois Observer during his fall fundraiser in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood.
“I spent the day making calls on marriage,” Harris said. “I’m very happy.”
Another Democratic lawmaker contacted by The Illinois Observer echoed Harris.
“Greg says he’s calling the bill next week and that’s he got the votes,” said the legislator. “I don’t know who he has flipped.” […]
“I understand the Speaker has renewed interest in the marriage bill,” a top Democratic lawmaker told The Illinois Observer.
That last sentence is probably the most important one.
* The AP also sees momentum building…
One legislator who firmed up his support is Rep. Al Riley, an Olympia Fields Democrat who’s been hesitant to discuss his position publicly. He told The Associated Press he’s now a “yes.”
“I’m not in the business of discriminating against people,” he said. The road to “good public policy is that you don’t talk about it all the damn time.”
Riley was always leaning hard in that direction, but it is important for supporters to come out and say so.
* The other side…
Bishop Larry Trotter of Sweet Holy Spirit Church and his coalition of African American pastors around the Chicago area have spoken out against same-sex marriage with aggressive robocall and radio ads. He said the group, which argues marriage should remain between a man and a woman, has started lining up challengers, though he declined to name any. Candidates who want to run for office face an early December petition deadline.
“We have some very serious candidates who are going to run in several of these districts,” Trotter said. “They can’t come to church with our support and then go and vote (against our interests) in Springfield.”
- Cassandra - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 10:34 am:
Could be good news for the pensioners, in the short run anyway. Really, how many hot issues can the legislators handle in one week.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 10:44 am:
If Pension and gay marriage get tackled in one week, that undoubtedly would be a good week for Springfield.
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 10:53 am:
“that’s he got the votes”
Awesome!
- Montrose - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 10:55 am:
Greg knows what he is doing and would not make a public statement like that if he was confident his votes were there. Lets hope nothing comes out of left field (actually, it would be right field) to derail a vote.
- RNUG - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 10:56 am:
If they need to distract the public from inaction on a pension “reform” bill, passing this will do it.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 10:58 am:
Harris is certainly raising expectations. I hope he’s right.
The comment on Madigan’s interest is positive, I think, if true.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 11:05 am:
Things to consider …
Rep. Harris is wise enough to only envoke the words “Speaker Madigan” when its relevent. He is not going to just say it, without somehting behind it.
Also, Rep. Harris is not going to be a “Vote Countula”, so if Harris is close, he means it.
Finally, Rep. Harris has done a Yeoman’s job. Period. New Paragraph. All these Dopes blaming Greg Harris have no clue to the process, so when Rep. Harris, along with supporter Speaker Mike Madigan get the bill to the floor, I don’t want to hear/see all these “advocates” thinking they were the ones who went around Greg or MJM, and got this done.
If you ….”advocates, supporters, …” did not have those two doing some serious lifting to even get this far, you all … all … would be nowhere.
- CircularFiringSquad - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 11:18 am:
What is the over/under whether Springfield’s Bishop of Bling leaves the Blackhawk practice center long enough to travel to SPI and stalk the gallery excommunicating ME supporters as they speak?
We vote that he sticks with free lunch at Gene’s and skips the vote
- Bill White - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 11:20 am:
@RNUG
=== If they need to distract the public from inaction on a pension “reform” bill, passing this will do it. ===
And, as it would be foolish to pass a pension reform bill before those two critical IL Supreme Court cases are handed down, I am encouraged that the votes will be found for marriage equality.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 11:25 am:
Ironic statement of the moment from Al Riley:
The road to “good public policy is that you don’t talk about it all the damn time.”
- walkinfool - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 11:30 am:
Rich is correct — Riley always been there for equal rights.
Maybe the one nose count we could rely on is Rich’s.
But that’s not his job, and G. Harris is a very careful and knowledgeable legislator. I’m just wondering which day to drive down to Springfield to see history happen.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 12:03 pm:
And shortly thereafter, Andy Thayer will issue a press release claiming his “pressure” campaign to call the bill for a vote was successful.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 12:10 pm:
Get it done, House Dems.
A couple more HGOPers wouldn’t hurt either.
I think there is another Darby v Orr hearing set for next week but hopefully the GA can make that irrelevant or at least shift its focus to moving up the ssm effective date.
- David Ormsby - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 12:23 pm:
–Rep. Harris is wise enough to only envoke the words “Speaker Madigan” when its relevent. He is not going to just say it, without somehting behind it.–
OW,
Just to be clear. It was a third lawmaker who referenced MJM, not Harris.
DO
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 12:28 pm:
DO,
Apologies. You should know! My mistake and My mis-read.
OW
- Dozer - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 12:29 pm:
Question for the opponents who are organizing primary challengers: what’s the end game? Lets say you are able to knock off a couple of incumbent yes votes on marriage equality, will those new members then file a bill to repeal? I think I’ve seen this movie before but I can’t quite put my finger on it….#TedCruz
- Demoralized - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 3:46 pm:
==And shortly thereafter, Andy Thayer will issue a press release claiming his “pressure” campaign to call the bill for a vote was successful. ==
That made me laugh out loud. Thanks.
- Just The Way It Is One - Friday, Nov 1, 13 @ 3:55 pm:
Well this is BIG news–if Greg Harris says he’s got the votes and is happy, it’s a done deal then. I must admit I’m a bit surprised, though, that it’s happening this soon–figured, based on what’s been reported up till now, that it’d more likely be not until at least the Spring Session…!
- Not in the Know - Monday, Nov 4, 13 @ 10:50 am:
Montrose….you do realize that ‘left field’ can pass anything they wish, whenever they wish, without anyone from ‘right field’?