Supporters of marriage equality in Illinois are pressing for a legislative vote as the general assembly gears up for the veto session to begin next Tuesday. 

Backers of marriage equality legislation say the word on the street is that there are enough votes to pass the bill (SB 10), which did not go up for a vote in the Illinois House last session due to a lack of support. The state Senate has already passed the bill.

“We don’t comment publicly on roll call,” Campaign Manager for Illinois Unites for Marriage John Kohlhelpp told The State Journal-Register's editorial board. “We take that from our sponsor (Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago). He says we are within striking distance.”

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago) says she and Harris have been working to garner support for the bill in the House, adding that she is optimistic about the bill's prospects for passage.

“The lead sponsor and I, as well as others, have spent the summer having the conversations with our colleagues that they asked us to have when we delayed the bill in the spring, making our way around the state answering questions and providing support to help them get where they need to go,” Cassidy told the newspaper. “I feel good about those conversations.”

Those in support of marriage equality are planning to hold a massive rally in Springfield next Tuesday to call for a vote on the bill. Opponents of marriage equality plan to hold their own rally, put together by the Illinois Family Institute, in front of the statehouse on Wednesday. Check back with Progress Illinois for coverage of the rallies.