Minnesota House Speaker Paul Thissen
has applauded Republicans for helping a gay marriage bill clear the
House on Thursday.
In an interview with The
Washington Post, Thissen, a Democrat, said the four GOP votes
the bill received were a surprise to him.
“I did not” know about the
Republican votes, he said. “I had an inkling we might, but we
didn't call the vote until we knew we had the votes on our side.”
“I think it's hugely significant,
because it shouldn't be a partisan issue,” Thissen
continued. “And nationally, it's really not. There are so
many Republicans across the country that do support moving in this
direction. And so what that means, for the state, for the
conversation we're having, is that it has moved beyond being a
partisan issue to being an issue about Minnesotans and their freedom
and equality. And I think that's hugely important.”
The measure now heads to the Minnesota
Senate, where its prospects look bright. Senator Branden Petersen in
February became the first GOP
senator to publicly announce his support for the measure.
(Related: Unanimous
Republican support for gay marriage in Rhode Island Senate.)