It was expected, but it's always a relief when it actually happens: On Wednesday night, by a 28-21 margin, Washington's state Senate
passed a bill that would legalize marriage between members of the same sex. The state House is expected to follow suit next week, and Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire has promised to sign the legislation. So how did the vote break down?
The bill passed with support from 24 Democrats and four Republicans. Eighteen Republicans and a trio of Democrats—State Sens. Jim Hargrove, Tim Sheldon and Paull Shin—voted no.
The four Republicans who voted in favor: state Sens. Steve Litzow, Cheryl Pflug, Joe Fain, and Andy Hill. Here's a thought: Democratic state Rep. Marko Liias recently dropped out of a race for Congress in Washington's 1st Congressional District ... but he represents the same district in the legislature as Shin. Liias is a committed progressive and, as it happens, is also gay. How about a challenge to Shin in the (top-two) primary?