OLYMPIA, Wash. – A bill to legalize same-sex marriage has been filed in the House as a companion bill to the measure filed in the Senate last week.
The House bill, requested by Gov. Chris Gregoire, is sponsored by Democratic Rep. Jamie Pedersen of Seattle.
The House version of bill that was introduced Tuesday has 49 Democrats signing on in support, and one Republican. Democrats hold a 56-43 majority in the House, and the gay marriage measure already has enough support to pass there. The Senate is still short of the 25 votes needed for passage there. Sen. Ed Murray is the sponsor of the Senate bill, and 22 other senators, including two Republicans, have signed on in support.
Both the House and Senate will have public hearings on the bills on Monday.
