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发帖数: 4174 | 1 A second Republican state representative in Illinois has come out in support
of the state’s pending marriage equality bill, citing his mother-in-law’s
same-sex relationship as one reason for his decision.
Rep. Ed Sullivan Jr. of Mundelein, a northern suburb of Chicago, told the
Chicago Tribune Sunday that he will support the legislation, which has
already been passed by the state Senate. Gov. Pat Quinn has said he will
sign it into law.
“The first reaction from people might be, ‘Well, he might be voting for
that just because of his mother-in-law,’” Sullivan said. “The reality is,
because my mother-in-law is gay, I have more of an understanding and
familiarity with same-sex couples.” Sullivan, however, had opposed the
state’s civil unions bill, which passed in 2010.
Rep. Ron Sandack of Downers Grove, another Chicago suburb, is the only other
House Republican to have endorsed the marriage equality bill. Sullivan said
he believes others among the 47 Republicans in the chamber will come around
to supporting the measure.
“There is tremendous momentum leading up to this vote,” he told the
Tribune. “I think we’re very close. There’s many of my colleagues that
have talked about this, that have said it’s the right thing to do.”
There are 71 Democrats in the House; with a majority of them supporting
marriage equality, the bill is within about a dozen votes of the 60 it needs
to pass. Chief House sponsor Greg Harris has said he will not call a vote
on it unless he is confident the 60 votes are there. The House returns from
a two-week recess today. |
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