PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Will Illinois See a Marriage Equality Bill in the New Year?

Illinois lawmakers are set to reconvene for a lame duck session in early January; Governor Quinn thinks that could be the state's best shot at pushing through a marriage equality measure.

2013-01-29
January 29, 2013 (Press-News.org) Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has been quite vocal about his support for a marriage equality measure. But will Governor Quinn's backing be enough to convince outgoing Illinois legislators to support a same-sex marriage bill? The governor seems optimistic that a marriage equality bill could be on his desk by January; according to the Associated Press, at a December 10 press conference, Governor Quinn urged lawmakers in the state House to "vote their conscience" on the issue, and commented that he hopes a marriage equality bill will move forward before January 9.

January, 2013 presents unique opportunity for marriage equality law

January 9 is a key date for the Illinois marriage equality movement because that is the day newly elected lawmakers will be sworn in. With the so-called "lame duck" session beginning January 2, Illinois legislators will have just a few days to push through a same-sex marriage issue before the power dynamic shifts in Springfield.

A recent poll from Public Policy Polling found that 47 percent of Illinois voters now support same-sex marriage. Still, even considering the growing support for marriage equality, same-sex marriage remains a contentious issue among many groups of voters. Traditionally, lawmakers who are not returning to office are more likely to vote in favor of controversial issues, meaning that the odds are better for a marriage equality bill if it is considered before January 9.

Marriage equality would mean more family law rights for same-sex couples

It's been about a year and a half since Illinois legalized civil unions for both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Couples entering a civil union in Illinois enjoy many of the same rights given to married couples, such as tax advantages, automatic hospital visitation rights, the ability to make emergency medical decisions for partners, adoption and parental rights, pension benefits and inheritance rights. However, the civil union law fell short of granting federally recognized marriage.

If full-fledged same-sex marriages do become available in Illinois, it could have important implicates for those involved in a long-term same-sex relationship. Those who got married would have expended benefits, and the full legal recognition of marriage from the State of Illinois enjoyed by heterosexual partners.

With full marriage rights, there also comes a range of legal issues, however. When entering or ending a same-sex marital union, same-sex couples may need help asserting their rights.

Only time will tell if Illinois will become the latest state to implement marriage equality in the New Year. If a marriage equality bill does pass, it will usher in a new era of opportunity for same-sex couples in Illinois -- and if it doesn't pass in January, the issue is unlikely to disappear from the public discourse for long.

Article provided by Susan E. Kamman & Associates
Visit us at www.kammanlaw.com


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Criminal Sentence Requiring Church Attendance Draws Criticism

2013-01-29
Oklahoma takes impaired driving very seriously. A buzz after a couple drinks at a happy hour with co-workers could be enough to put you over the legal blood alcohol content limit of .08. There is little tolerance for underage students who drink alcohol; the legal BAC limit for underage drivers is .02. In one recent case, a Musckogee County judge is facing scrutiny after crafting an unusual sentence for an underage drunk driver. What led up to the unique sentence? In 2011, an intoxicated 17-year old driver hit a tree. His friend, who was riding as a passenger in ...

Pennsylvania Increases Fines for Underage Drinking Crimes

2013-01-29
As everyone knows, many underage U.S. college students drink alcohol. At Penn State and other Pennsylvania colleges and universities, the situation is no different. In fact, the Centre Daily Times reports that in 2011 a shocking 657 college students at Penn State were seen medically for "alcohol overdoses" with an average blood-alcohol content at "an all-time high" of a frightening 0.287. The University of Pennsylvania provides information about the consequences of high BACs. BAC measures the amount of alcohol in a person's blood at a given moment. ...

Michigan Residents Expected to Increase Credit Card Debt in 2013

2013-01-29
Despite forecasts for an improving economy, many people in the U.S. will find themselves in a much worse financial situation later this year than they expect. Although 2012 financial reports show a decrease in use of credit cards and overall debt loads for the average consumer, banks and other lenders are loosening their grip on their coffers, making it easier for people to borrow and use credit. The number of filings for bankruptcy in Michigan were down last year, but not because borrowers were being more responsible. With a pending election and a sluggish economy, ...

Use of Drug-Detecting Dog at Issue in Supreme Court Case

2013-01-29
Seemingly each session, the Supreme Court will hear cases regarding actions by law enforcement personnel in their investigations into drug crimes. The Court is asked to determine if these procedures infringe upon our constitutional rights. Often, the decisions expand the use of police power, making it more difficult for those accused of crime to present a strong defense against the accusations. Recently, the Court heard a case concerning the use of a drug-detecting dog during a Florida traffic stop. This case could lead to many more people being charged with drug crimes. A ...

Another Florida Car Accident Death Likely from Texting Behind the Wheel

2013-01-29
Unfortunately, the news is becoming all too common of Floridians who die because they or someone else uses cell phones to text behind the wheel. Only 29 years old, a Tampa man died in a single-vehicle crash on a Tuesday evening in November 2012 near the Gandy Bridge in St. Petersburg. His cell phone was found in the front seat displaying an incomplete text message, suggesting that the driver had probably been texting when he lost control of his speeding car. The driver apparently overcorrected after having veered onto the median and hit a power pole and palm trees. He ...

Study Shows "Never Events" in Surgery Actually Occur Quite Often

2013-01-29
It is a truth universally acknowledged that surgery is something no one wants to go through. However, if it is necessary, patients rightfully expect that the surgeon will exhibit the level of vigilance and competence necessary to make the operation go smoothly and error-free. Unfortunately, a recent study confirms that certain types of surgical errors that surgeons agree should never happen--called "never events"--actually happen more often than you would believe. Never events include egregious mistakes such as accidentally leaving medical tools or equipment ...

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Overpowers Victims of the Illness

2013-01-29
It may be one of the most agonizing physical diseases. The pain is more than twice as distressing as a broken bone. It is more excruciating than childbirth or having a limb amputated. The condition is reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSD), otherwise known as complex regional pain syndrome. There is very little known about the disease; yet, researchers suspect that the disorder commences with a traumatic injury, such as a car accident. It is estimated 50,000 people develop RSD each year. Research suggests that cause is not only neurological, but also inflammatory ...

Snowmobile Accidents: A Potential Danger to Minnesota Sled Enthusiasts

2013-01-29
There's no feeling like gliding across an open field or tearing over a frozen lake on your favorite snowmobile. For many Minnesotans, snowmobiling is the recreational activity that defines winter, something to look forward to during the long months of cold temperatures and early darkness. Yet, thrilling as it is, snowmobiling can be a dangerous activity; Minnesota snowmobile accidents are all too common. From defective sleds to carelessness by fellow riders, the potential risks to snowmobilers are vast. Defective sleds, reckless snowmobilers, road traffic all serious ...

The Distribution of Inherited Property in a Divorce

2013-01-29
In September 2012, the Court of Appeals of Oregon opined on issues relating to the division of inherited property pursuant to a divorce. The case sheds light on some important property division issues. Morton v. Morton began when Wife filed for divorce. A lower court awarded Wife spousal support and allocated the couple's property and debts between Husband and Wife. After the case, Husband appealed the property division. The crux of the appeal was Wife's inheritance from her father during the last years of the couple's marriage. In the Court of Appeals, Husband challenged ...

Truck Accidents Take a Toll on Florida's Commuters

2013-01-29
Trucks can be dangerous on Florida's roads and streets. Recently, the city of Tampa was considering a settlement in a lawsuit filed on behalf of a child who was seriously injured by a utility truck driven by a city employee. Child struck by a city truck In November 2009, a four-year-old was riding his tricycle near his home in unincorporated Hillsborough County. This area receives water service from the city of Tampa, and a meter reader for the city was in the neighborhood to check water meters. The meter reader was using a city truck and had been out of the truck ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Thirty-year mystery of dissonance in the “ringing” of black holes explained

Less intensive works best for agricultural soil

Arctic rivers project receives “national champion” designation from frontiers foundation

Computational biology paves the way for new ALS tests

Study offers new hope for babies born with opioid withdrawal syndrome

UT, Volkswagen Group of America celebrate research partnership

New Medicare program could dramatically improve affordability for cancer drugs – if patients enroll

Are ‘zombie’ skin cells harmful or helpful? The answer may be in their shapes

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presents research at AACR 2025

Head and neck, breast, lung and survivorship studies headline Dana-Farber research at AACR Annual Meeting 2025

AACR: Researchers share promising results from MD Anderson clinical trials

New research explains why our waistlines expand in middle age

Advancements in muon detection: Taishan Antineutrino Observatory's innovative top veto tracker

Chips off the old block

Microvascular decompression combined with nerve combing for atypical trigeminal neuralgia

Cutting the complexity from digital carpentry

Lung immune cell type “quietly” controls inflammation in COVID-19

Fiscal impact of expanded Medicare coverage for GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat obesity

State and sociodemographic trends in US cigarette smoking with future projections

Young adults drive historic decline in smoking

NFCR congratulates Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr. on receiving the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research

Chimpanzee stem cells offer new insights into early embryonic development

This injected protein-like polymer helps tissues heal after a heart attack

FlexTech inaugural issue launches, pioneering interdisciplinary innovation in flexible technology

In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

Methyl eugenol: potential to inhibit oxidative stress, address related diseases, and its toxicological effects

A vascularized multilayer chip reveals shear stress-induced angiogenesis in diverse fluid conditions

AI helps unravel a cause of Alzheimer's disease and identify a therapeutic candidate

Coalition of Autism Scientists critiques US Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative

Structure dictates effectiveness, safety in nanomedicine

[Press-News.org] Will Illinois See a Marriage Equality Bill in the New Year?
Illinois lawmakers are set to reconvene for a lame duck session in early January; Governor Quinn thinks that could be the state's best shot at pushing through a marriage equality measure.