Nine representatives attached their names to the bill, including House Minority Leader James Smith, D-Columbia, and state Rep. Seth Whipper, D-North Charleston. Only five names are needed to move a proposal to the contested calendar.

Representatives say the measure will likely come up for debate following the House's passing of the budget, scheduled for next week.

The bill, which would deny marriage benefits to gay couples that wed in other states, is expected to pass easily in the House. More than 60 representatives have signed on as sponsors.

"We expected this to happen," said House Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston. "We will get to it in the next couple of weeks. There will be some heated debates, then we will vote on it, and it should pass without a problem."

South Carolina is one of 38 states to ban gay marriages. It is one of 17 considering measures to close loopholes in that ban.

Sponsored by state Rep. Gloria Haskins, R-Greenville, the proposal was prompted by the recent Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling giving same-sex marriages the same rights and responsibilities as traditionally married couples.

"I just felt we needed to study this issue more closely before we all go running off and jumping on some bandwagon," Whipper said. "And really, I wanted more input from people in my district. This is an emotional issue, so we have to be careful with it."

Smith said he wanted the bill moved because it was an issue that warranted serious debate.

"We can't just let it fly through without talking about it," he said.

But many of the bill's sponsors say opponents of the measure are just delaying the inevitable.

"It's not a matter of if it will pass, it's when," said state Rep. Chip Limehouse, R-Charleston.

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