By Angela Hatton
Springfield, IL – The Illinois state Senate is scheduled to vote today on a law to allow civil unions. The House narrowly approved the measure yesterday, which would offer gay couples legal recognition and some of the benefits of marriage. Supporters expect more support for the bill in Senate. Opponents say civil unions amount to same-sex marriage by another name. They argue approving them could lead to the courts ordering the state to give homosexual couples full marriage rights. Supporters say civil unions are not the same as gay marriage, but they would provide some important benefits, such as the right to make medical decisions for a dying partner. If approved, Illinois would be the sixth state to pass civil unions.