Gay Marriage Vote Delayed in Ill.

Despite a hearty endorsement from the chairman of Illinois’s Republican Party, a measure to legalize gay marriage was delayed today in the state’s senate. An assault-weapons ban was also postponed, despite backing from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Heather Steans, the sponsoring senator for the gay-marriage bill, said she had the votes lined up to pass the legislation, but that many lawmakers in their final days of public service didn’t show up. A vote could be taken on Tuesday, the day before the next wave of politicians enter their offices. Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, a same-sex-marriage bill is being presented to the General Assembly with the hope it could make the state the 10th to legalize gay marriages.