* From Rep. Greg Harris’ Facebook page…

* Like I did in the subscriber section, the Sun-Times quoted Harris’ post and Harris had some fun with it…

* Most of the Sun-Times story was about Speaker Madigan’s involvement…

But unlike in the spring, when Harris didn’t have the votes to pass the same-sex marriage bill, Madigan (D-Chicago) has been actively working over members to persuade them to pass the legislation.

“I had a brief conversation with [Madigan]. He was asking about the bill because he is trying to pass it,” said Rep. Thaddeus Jones (D-Calumet City), a member of the House Legislative Black Caucus who’s among more than a dozen House members still undecided on the bill.

State Rep. John D’Amico (D-Chicago), another undecided House member, said he, too, had a conversation about Harris’ bill with Madigan. “I’m still meeting with people, talking to my constituents, and I’m not going to make my mind up till I get on the floor and listen to the debate,” D’Amico said.

Harris has been unwilling to divulge how close to 60 votes he is, but gay activist Rick Garcia, who also is helping to pass the measure, said, “We’re closer to 60 than we were even three weeks ago.”

Garcia said there is “a very good chance” Harris will seek a vote on the bill this week and that Madigan’s involvement amounts to a “very significant” development in trying to pass the legislation.

“We’re within striking distance. The speaker isn’t going to make calls if we have 52 or 53 votes, right?” said Garcia, political director of the Civil Rights Agenda. “The speaker will make calls if we’re at 57 votes, you know? He’s not going to bring 10, but he can persuade a couple, and I think that’s what we’re going to rely on.”

* Greg Hinz…

Chief bill sponsor Rep. Greg Harris wasn’t available for comment yesterday. But another sponsor, Rep. Kelly Cassidy, like Mr. Harris a Chicago Democrat who is open about her sexuality, told me yesterday, “I anticipate that the bill will be called for a vote this week.”

Will it pass? “Let’s just say I bought a new suit (for the occasion),” Ms. Cassidy quipped. “I feel really good. I feel excited about coming to Springfield for the first time in a while.”

* Tribune…

Opponents say they are focused on lobbying anywhere from 10 to 15 House lawmakers who could vote either way. They contend any hype about a possible vote is just that until the measure is called, citing the lack of a vote at the end of spring session.

“I think that what they are doing is the same thing they did in late May. They’re trying to make this a self-fulfilling prophecy,” said Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois. “We have seen this before. We just hope it has the same ending.”

* Illinois Review…

Opponents say they do not believe there are enough votes in the House to pass SB 10 to the governor, but that the proponents are pushing for a roll call to use in upcoming primary elections.

* Related…

* Rep. Gordon-Booth adds support to same-sex marriage bill: Breaking a longtime silence on the subject, state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth announced Monday she intends to support legislation permitting same-sex marriage in the Land of Lincoln. The third-term Peoria Democrat had previously not committed on the legislation, Senate Bill 10, and after months of consideration may end up being one of the deciding votes on the measure. It could be voted on as soon as Tuesday, and is believed to be within a handful of votes of securing a majority.

* Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth: Equality under the law is the American way: I will vote for the legalization of same-gender marriage. Many conversations over the last several months with constituents, clergy members, community leaders and legal scholars only bolster my conviction that it is the right course for our state. It is time that Illinois joins the 14 other states that have legalized same-gender marriage and embraces the moral courage and legal soundness exemplified by Brown v. Board of Education: Separate but equal is un-American.

       

16 Comments - Demoralized - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 9:36 am: I hope this passes. Illinois can become yet another state that values equality for all. - Montrose - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 9:39 am: I am pretty sure the second Facebook post is signaling elements of the celebration when SB10 passes. - Kuz - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 9:51 am: “Opponents say they do not believe there are enough votes in the House to pass SB 10 to the governor, but that the proponents are pushing for a roll call to use in upcoming primary elections.” Huh, just a couple of months ago, this was opposite — proponents saying not to vote too early, lest the vote be used against them. I guess when someone complains that a tough vote is being called just to put them on the wrong side of the record, that’s how you know they don’t have the votes on their side. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 9:54 am: Sounds like the hay’s in the barn. Whatever you think of MJM, can you think of another legislative leader who could use his muscle to put conceal-carry and gay marriage over the top in the same year? He looks out for his members. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 10:05 am: This is very exciting. I am really hopeful that SB 10 will pass. - hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 10:17 am: Good for Jehan doing the right thing. Also not sure if you will do a separate post on it or not, but I really hope some suburban House GOPers seek out Mark Kirks speech on ENDA yesterday and think long and hard about the votes they cast on marriage. Are these folks going to embrace the Lincoln-Dirksen tradition of Illinois Republicans being at the vanguard of civil rights like Mark Kirk has chosen to do? Or are they going to vote against the sentiments of the majority of people in this state and the people they raise money from to appease bishops that often don’t even have the support of a majority of their congregations on this? Are they going to cast a vote their children and grandchildren will be proud of 20 or 30 years from now, or one they are ashamed of? - N'ville - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 10:24 am: Will this require 3/5 vote in the House, or does the “30 days after becoming a law” effective date only require a majority? - MrJM - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 10:36 am: Even the conservative of Okefenokee County are coming around on SSM: https://twitter.com/misterjayem/status/397749386622824448 – MrJM - anonymous - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 10:47 am: Would love to see this pass. - Jaded - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 10:48 am: Bills don’t fail if Madigan wants them to pass. They will likely do a floor amendment for the June 1 effective date and roll the thing whenever all the yes votes are in their seats. - walkinfool - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 11:22 am: “Bills don’t fail if Madigan wants them to pass.” False If it were true, we would have had substantial pension reform three or four years ago. This effort is a good reflection of the supposedly “all powerful” Speaker. Madigan can move 2 or 3 (maybe 5) votes on a controversial bill like this, but he usually cannot move 10. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 11:30 am: As HGF points out, Sen. Kirk deserves a shout-out for his Senate floor speech on ENDA, his first since returning from his stroke. From the the links on the right, here’s a clip. http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=16887&MediaType=1&Category=26 - low level - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 11:45 am: Exactly, Walkinfool. When Andy Thayer last week said that “Madigan controls the IL House (and by implication, the votes of Dem Caucus members) the same way Rahm controls the Chicago City Council” I realized why the effort had failed so far if thats what he and many of the supporters really think. The reality is far different, as your comment showed. - reformer - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 12:36 pm: If the bill gets 60 votes, it won’t go into effect before June 2014. - Jaded - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 1:32 pm: I stand by my comments. Bills don’t fail IF Madigan wants them to pass. - ArchPundit - Tuesday, Nov 5, 13 @ 5:39 pm: There should be a sad clown sound next to the Illinois Review piece. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.