Senate Judiciary Passes Domestic Partnerships

The Senate Judiciary Committee just voted 6-5 to pass SB12, the domestic partnership bill to the full Senate.

Previously the bill had stalled in the committee on a 5-5 tie.

But the logjam broke when Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, who was out of the room during the first vote a couple of weeks ago, voted to give the bill to the entire Senate.

Sanchez said after that first vote that she was opposed to the bill. Today she still sounded as if she's not backing the bill. She said because the bill involves marriage it should be heard by the full Senate.

It could be heard by the Senate later this week.

Sen. Cisco McSorley, the bill's sponsor, said he believes there are enough votes on the Senate floor to pass it. If so, it would go on to the House, which has passed similar bills before.