Tagged: gay marriage

The Illinois Senate returns to the Capitol on Wednesday to begin a weeklong legislative session that could take up pension reform, legalizing gay marriage and banning assault rifles.

The 97th General Assembly will finish its work Jan. 9 when a new Legislature is sworn in. That means there are many lame-duck lawmakers not returning who might feel less constrained to vote for contentious issues. The House comes in Sunday.

Gov. Pat Quinn has made it a priority for the assembly to find a solution to the state employee retirement programs that are underfunded by $96 billion.

Two Illinois lawmakers say they're within "striking distance" of getting legislative approval for gay marriage and hope to send a bill to Gov. Pat Quinn shortly after the new year.

Rep. Greg Harris and Sen. Heather Steans say they'll call for a vote on a gay marriage bill when the Legislature reconvenes in January. The Chicago Democrats say public opinion favoring equal rights for same-sex partners is moving rapidly. The fact that four states voted in favor of the issue or opposed a ban on it in November helps.

A new poll shows gay marriage has seen a sharp jump in support among Illinois voters.

The poll by Southern Illinois University's Simon Public Policy Institute found that 44 percent of voters support legalizing gay marriage. That's up 10 points from two years ago.

Nearly one-third of voters said they back civil unions for gay couples. Only 20 percent oppose legal recognition of same-sex couples.

Pollsters interviewed 1,261 registered voters by phone between Sept. 4 and Sept. 10. The margin of error is 3 points plus or minus.