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    sigmaoctansLacey Donohue
    11/21/13 12:00am

    Why such a long waiting period? The Supreme Court ordered California to issue marriage licenses, and they started doing so 48 hours later. I know it's in the law, but I'm wondering why. Was there really anyone in the IL legislature that was going to change their vote based on how long in the future it took effect? Or do all laws in Illinois take 7 months to take effect?

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      ARP2sigmaoctans
      11/21/13 12:05am

      No, there's nothing that says IL laws must wait. My guess is that they need time to prep forms, benefits programs, workplace regulations, hospital regulations, etc. Theoretically, it would be easy to prepare. In reality, its probably not.

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      shhhhhhhsigmaoctans
      11/21/13 12:15am

      It passed the Illinois House 61-54. A 6-month delay in implementation meant that the House could pass the bill with only 60 votes instead of 71.

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    Rhubarb the PlatypusLacey Donohue
    11/20/13 11:44pm

    So many pens!

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      DL ThurstonRhubarb the Platypus
      11/21/13 8:30am

      Wow. Such pens. Very signing.

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      DL ThurstonRhubarb the Platypus
      11/21/13 8:30am

      [Double post]

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    GemmabetaLacey Donohue
    11/20/13 11:45pm

    I know people get the pens as souvenirs, but that's a bit overkill.

    PS. The Google (peace be upon it) tell me that LBJ used 75 to 117 pens (the reporters lost track) to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964—Johnson paid for all of them out of pocket.

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      shhhhhhhGemmabeta
      11/20/13 11:48pm

      Apparently, souvenir pens account for 99% of government spending.

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    GregSamsaLacey Donohue
    11/20/13 11:56pm

    Glad 'religious freedom' was thrown in. Otherwise, fairness would seem unreasonable.

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      ARP2GregSamsa
      11/21/13 12:18am

      It's for the same reason as the "no death panels" language in the ACA. There's nothing in ACA that even creates death panels, but FUD by conservatives forced them to add the language. Same here. Current law doesn't force the Catholic church to marry any couple (even a Catholic couple), but they had to add the language anyway.

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    FaithandReasonLacey Donohue
    11/21/13 3:11am

    Oh for FUCK'S SAKE! Why make them wait?!

    Just let the folks get hitched and tell the wannabe Santorums to quit bitching and moaning about the sex lives of consenting adults and worry about something that actually WILL have impact on their own lives! GAH!

    (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

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      DL ThurstonFaithandReason
      11/21/13 7:51am

      Immediate implementation required more votes than they could muster, delayed implementation required only a simple majority.

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      DL ThurstonFaithandReason
      11/21/13 7:51am

      Immediate implementation required more votes than they could muster, delayed implementation required only a simple majority.

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    mishellie3088Lacey Donohue
    11/20/13 11:58pm

    Not often I get to be proud of my state's government - but I'm pretty proud about this one.

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      dvdoffLacey Donohue
      11/21/13 12:02am

      Rod Blagojevich can finally marry his cellmate! I'm sure he'll look dashing in his orange gown, with just a touch of white. Just because.

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        shhhhhhhLacey Donohue
        11/20/13 11:53pm

        What makes the law exceptionally great is that civil unions can be converted into marriages (IL had civil unions already).

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          ddawn23shhhhhhh
          11/21/13 12:18am

          That's awesome! Do they switch automatically, or do couples need to file some paperwork? That is, of course, if you happen to know.

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          shhhhhhhddawn23
          11/21/13 12:31am

          They have to fill out a form and it becomes a marriage the following year. But there's no fee.

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        MeanMrMustardLacey Donohue
        11/21/13 7:42am

        And everyone in Illinois gets a pen.

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          DuffinLacey Donohue
          11/21/13 7:56am

          Ugh! I don't get why marriage is something states get to rule on individually. When you do that, you get the very thing that's happening: some people have a legal right to something where it could be illegal ten miles away in another state. It's ludicrous...

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