A bill that would legalize gay marriage
in Washington state has gained two more votes in the Senate, putting
it two votes shy of passage.
According to a tally by The
Associated Press, the measure has sufficient support to clear the
House and has 23 of the 25 votes needed for passage in the Senate. A
Wednesday total put the bill 4 votes shy of passage.
Democratic Senator Ed Murray, who is
openly gay, officially filed the bill on Friday.
“I am two votes short,” Murray told
the Seattle
Post-Intelligencer. “This is as likely not to happen as to
happen. At this point, it's a very personal decision for the
members.”
Two Republican lawmakers are among the
“yes” votes: Senators Steve Litzow of Mercer Island and Cheryl
Pflug of Maple Valley. Freshman GOP Senators Joe Fain of Auburn and
Andy Hill of Redmond say they remain undecided.
A January 23 public hearing on the bill
has been scheduled.
Governor Chris Gregoire, who previously
signed bills expanding the state's current domestic partnership law,
last week publicly endorsed marriage equality for the first time.