Ill. House Extends Deadline to Consider Gay Marriage Bill

The Illinois House has reportedly extended its deadline one week for considering a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage.

The House was scheduled to vote on the bill Friday, but extended the deadline to May 31.

Chief Sponsor Rep. Greg Harris told the Windy City Times he will "absolutely" call the bill to a vote before session ends at the end of May and that it will pass.

The bill has already passed the Senate, but a lack of votes kept it stalled in the House. Gov. Quinn said as recently as Monday that he wil lsign the bill and thinks there are enough votes to get the bill onto his desk.

Former President Bill Clinton on Tuesday threw his weight behind the legislation, joining a chorus of voices including Republican Sen. Mark Kirk, who publicly back the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act.

Clinton said he believes the vote will strengthen the country, putting it closer to the nation's mission of forming a "more perfect union."

“That mission has inspired and empowered us to extend rights to people previously denied them," he said. "Every time we have done that, it has strengthened our nation. Now we should do it again, in Illinois, with marriage equality.”
 

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