A bill which seeks to legalize gay
marriage in Minnesota is expected to clear legislative committees in
the House and Senate next week.
At a press conference last week at the
Minnesota State Capitol, Representative Karen Clark and Senator Scott
Dibble, the measure's champions in the House and Senate respectively,
unveiled the long-expected bill which seeks to make Minnesota the
10th state to legalize marriage equality.
(Related: 3
year old at Minnesota gay marriage conference steals the show.)
Committees in the House and Senate will
consider the proposal on Tuesday, March 12.
The AP reported that the bill enjoys
the support of 9 lawmakers in the 17-member House Civil Law
Committee, making its passage highly likely.
Four Senate Judiciary Committee members
have pledged a yes vote on the bill. A needed fifth vote is expected
to come from Democratic Senator Barb Goodwin of Columbia Heights, who
supports marriage equality but has said she is uncomfortable with the
speed at which it is moving through the Legislature. Dibble, the
bill's champion in the Senate, has said he's confident Goodwin is a
yes vote.
All the confirmed affirmative votes
come from Democrats.
The measure received its first GOP
endorsement last month from Minnesota State Senator Branden Petersen.
(Related: NOM
warns Minnesota Republicans not to vote for gay marriage.)