Gregoire’s Gay Marriage Bill Is Only One Vote Short in State Senate

The Governor's gay marriage bill is one vote away from Senate approval.

A conservative Democrat from Puyallup has changed his mind and now Sen. Jim Kastama has officially indicated he will support Gregoire's Gay Marriage Bill. That leaves the Senate only one vote short of approval; and there are a number of uncommitted legislators. The Senate is the key here because the split between Republicans and Democrats is much closer than in the House, where it is already known there are enough votes to pass the bill. Senator Kastama, who has often sided with GOP members on certain bills, says society has changed and it is necessary for marriage to evolve to strengthen marriage as a valued institution.