Illinois' legislators have less than a month before they're scheduled to adjourn. The Speaker of the Illinois House made some predictions about what may and may not happen before then. IPR’S Amanda Vinicky reports.
A measure to legalize same sex marriage in Illinois already got state Senators' approval. But the Speaker of the Illinois House says there's not enough support for it to pass in that chamber. Mike Madigan said in March that gay marriage was a dozen votes shy in the House.
VINICKY: "Where's that at?"
MADIGAN: "We've been working on behalf of marriage equality. We’re a little closer. But we're not yet there. But we're a little closer."
Another controversial issue before the General Assembly? "Fracking", drilling deep underground to access oil and natural gas. Even though Madigan say he personally favors a ban, he predicts legislation will advance to regulate fracking.
MADIGAN: "Oh I'm for a moratorium. But I think we'll do a bill."
The drilling industry and some environmentalists have reached an agreement on fracking, but Madigan has been accused of holding it up by inserting a provision on behalf of a labor union.