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Rauner: Illinois Voters Should Have Decided Same-Sex Marriage Issue

LISLE, Ill. (AP) -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner says Illinois voters should have decided whether same-sex marriage should be legal in the state. But now that it's the law he won't advocate changing it.

Illinois' law allowing same-sex marriage took effect Sunday. Gay rights groups say Rauner has opposed efforts for the law and has previously vowed to work against them.

Rauner says: "That's false."

The Winnetka businessman spoke Monday before the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce in Lisle.

He says he only would have signed a bill legalizing gay marriage if voters had supported it in a referendum. But he says: "It's the law. I don't have any agenda to change it."

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who's seeking re-election against Rauner in November, pressed for the bill and signed it.

(© 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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