"I would say the most remarkable thing about this bill is that it is unremarkable. Instead of the cultural wars that we have seen year after year, we see a Legislature that is mostly on board in moving forward on protecting all of Washington's families.''

State Sen. Ed Murray, of Seattle Washington, one of six open-gay members of the Washington state legislature, on his co-sponsorship of a bill that will expand to domestic partnerships the rights and benefits of married couples without the use of the word "marraige." (Associated Press)