Ill. Rep. Harris 'delighted' by marriage ruling in Iowa

CHICAGO -- The sponsor of a civil unions bill in Illinois said he's "delighted" by the Iowa Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex unions there.

State Rep. Greg Harris said the Iowa decision shows the "the values of basic fairness are spreading from state to state."

Iowa is the third state to allow gay couples to legally marry. Illinois state law restricts marriage to one man and one woman.

Harris is a Chicago Democrat who is openly gay. He said his colleagues in the legislature advised him that while most people in Illinois support equal rights, they likely wouldn't back offering marriage to gay couples.

The state civil unions bill has passed out of a committee and now faces a vote on the House floor.