Senate vote today on domestic partners bill?

Senate Bill 5688 came out of Rules Committee Monday and there was much talk that a vote will occur today.

If it happens, it will spoil plans of a social conservative political group trying to sway the votes of eight moderate state senators.

Washington Values Alliance ran cable TV ads last weekend to drum up public pressure in hometowns of Democratic Sens. Jean Berkey, Steve Hobbs, Chris Marr, Derek Kilmer and Claudia Kauffman and Republican Sens. Curtis King, Dale Brandland and Cheryl Pflug.

Alliance President Larry Stickney said Monday the group intended to run the ads again Wednesday - which might make them a day late.

The 30-second ads, which you can see here, open with the line "This week, your state senator will vote on a law to redefine marriage to include homosexual relationships."

The legislation does not legalize marriage between couples of the same sex. It does extend a number of rights and responsibilities to these couples already provided to married couples..

"You can dress it up and call it what you want. We see it as marriage," Stickney said.

Three of those targeted - Kilmer, Kauffman and Hobbs - are co-sponsors on the bill.

Hobbs and Berkey issued statements late Monday.

Hobbs said, in part, :

“The ads are a poor attempt at using fear to justify bigotry. It’s a typical tactic, but it won’t work.

“I did not fight for freedom in Iraq, only to come home and deny basic human rights to my fellow citizens. This legislation is not about the erosion of marriage. It’s about equality and fairness.”

Berkey said:

"I understand this is a contentious issue, but domestic partners should be treated the same as married couples. They deserve equal respect under the law. This bill acknowledges the growing recognition of the importance of equality for all.

“This bill is not a negation of marriage. This legislation is about fairness and equity.”