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* From Chicago Pride…
Illinois State Senator Kyle McCarter, a Republican, has ended an effort to repeal Illinois’ gay marriage law approved by lawmakers last year.
Following a federal judge’s ruling handed down Friday that there is no need for gay couples to wait for the law to take effect in June, McCarter announced that he was withdrawing his bill (SB 2637), which was scheduled for debate in the Illinois Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday.
That would’ve been an interesting Exec Committee hearing, to say the least.
* Sen. McCarter remains defiant, however. From his statement…
“It was my intention when I submitted Senate Bill 2637 this year to repeal the law which redefined legal marriage within Illinois law because the people of Illinois were not given a realistic chance to weigh in on an issue of immense and radical cultural change,” said McCarter (R-Lebanon). “Given the level of influence and corruption we have witnessed by the well-connected and special interest groups in recent years, I am not convinced the will of the people was met by the original passage of Senate Bill 10.”
The order allowing same-sex individuals to marry was issued by Federal District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman. According to the Chicago Tribune, Judge Coleman said, ‘There is no reason to delay further when no opposition has been presented to this Court and committed gay and lesbian couples have already suffered from the denial of their fundamental right to marry.’
McCarter said while the ruling may be limited at this time to Cook County because the lawsuit was filed against the Cook County Clerk’s office to force him to issue marriage licenses, he expects similar suits will be filed against other county clerks throughout the state.
“The ruling is both disappointing and troubling,” said McCarter. “Obviously disappointing because of the radical change to our culture that the same-sex marriage law ushers in and the fact citizens in general were given no adequate voice in the decision-making. The troubling aspect of this is that the law passed last year contained protections for religious institutions from being forced to perform and solemnize ceremonies. I am concerned that those protections, as flimsy as I believe they were when the law was passed, won’t take effect until June 1, 2014. This puts our churches, wedding-related businesses and individuals at legal risk.”
Sen. McCarter said although the same-sex marriage law was passed by elected representatives, the people of Illinois were not given the opportunity through statewide public hearings to speak out for or against the redefinition of marriage.
“Legislative leaders have had no problem scheduling hearings around the state on other critical issues such as education funding and redrawing political boundaries for senators and representatives. Why didn’t they schedule hearings on redefining legal marriage to include same-sex couples?” said McCarter.
“Recently, nationally and now here in Illinois, we have seen example after example of the Executive and Judicial branches of government wielding supreme power over the will of the people or acting exclusively on their own without care to the will of the people,” said McCarter.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 10:26 am
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Now if only Sen. Hunter saw the light and withdrew her bill as well.
“Illinois: We don’t care what you do in the bedroom, but we’re all up in your kitchen.”
Comment by Formerly Known As... Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 10:30 am
===“Recently, nationally and now here in Illinois, we have seen example after example of the Executive and Judicial branches of government wielding supreme power over the will of the people or acting exclusively on their own without care to the will of the people,…===
SB10 passed. Legislatively.
Dope.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 10:30 am
Just had a conversation with friends this weekend. I commented how the biggest issues confronting us are not being dealt with properly. Pension issues, infrastructure issues, tax issues. Getting lip service and no real action on those issues. My friend says, you know why? Because all the politicians are spending too much time on social issues.
Bingo.
Comment by Westward Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 10:34 am
==SB10 passed. Legislatively.==
Thanks a lot, Oswego Willy, I now need to get the coffee out of my keyboard.
Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 10:36 am
McCarter; get over it and lets move on with fixing the budget.
Comment by Jim'e' Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 10:38 am
The will of ’some’ people doesn’t apply to an individual civil right, neither does religious belief.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 10:39 am
“McCarter announced that he was withdrawing his bill (SB 2637), which was scheduled for debate in the Illinois Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday”
Somebody caved. Doesn’t seem like leadership material to me.
Defending the bill in committee is apparently asking too much of Radogno.
Comment by Under Influenced... Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 10:42 am
Another Victim heard from.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 10:43 am
Sooner or later gay marriage would have happened. Here in Illinois - it was sooner than later.
What? You weren’t ready?
Sorry - game over.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 10:55 am
McCarter links this to political “corruption” in Illinois.
Come on! Get a life!
Comment by Walker Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 11:07 am
Give him a litte (I mean a little!) for knowing to pull the bill.
Comment by A guy... Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 11:27 am
I get so tired of this whining that the “people” didn’t have a voice. Bull. What the heck does he think the General Assembly is for? If he wants all of the issues to be taken to the voters for a referendum then he can go home and stop collecting his Senator salary because he obviously believes he isn’t needed. We elect people to represent us and to make decisions and if we don’t like the decisions they make we elect somebody else. Oh, and grow up Senator McCarter. Quit stomping your feet and realize the game is over. Move on already.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 11:56 am
==SB10 passed. Legislatively.
Dope.==
To be fair to the dope, the bill isn’t effective yet under Article IV, Section 10, of the Constitution, so the judge is asserting that the right to marry trumps that particular instance of the “will of the people.”
Comment by Anon. Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 12:43 pm
- Anon -, respectfully…
“The time is always right to do what is right.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Cited in the ruling, very narrowly allowing Cook County…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 1:19 pm
Dear Senator Carter:
You are correct, sir.
The judicial branch is guided by the rule of law, not public opinion polls.
We should all be thankful.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 1:25 pm
- Robert the Bruce -, apologies for the keyboard.
If a legislator who voted against SSM, and that Bill gets out if both chambers, to be signed, yeah, the Legislative was “involved”.
McCarter just keeps ensuring that Cullerton will keep him in that SGOP Caucus…
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 1:25 pm
The words I’d use to describe the Senator are unprintable. The only “critical” aspect of this issue is ensuring fair treatment for all humans. If the Senator believes that re-imposing statutory discrimination is a critical issue, perhaps he should reevaluate his priorities.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 1:38 pm
Joe B, I suspect some members of his caucus advised him they didn’t need to make that vote again before November.
I’m sure Cullerton would have called the bill for a vote in a heartbeat. As many times as he wanted.
Plus, McCarter wasn’t raising money off it anyway. The only contribution over $1K he’s received this year is from Whacky Jack, according to ISBE.
Time to move on to another reactionary idea that has no chance of passing to troll for money. My guess is it will involve urine tests for poor people.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 1:44 pm
===I suspect some members of his caucus advised him ===
Maybe higher up than that.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 1:46 pm
–Maybe higher up than that.–
Got you. Maybe someone who can write some checks, lol?
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Feb 24, 14 @ 1:53 pm