Posted on 02/17/2011 8:02:39 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Legislation that would legalize same-sex marriages in Maryland appeared headed for passage in the state Senate after winning approval Thursday from a key committee and the backing of a Prince George's senator who had withheld his support.
A 7 to 4 vote by the Judicial Proceedings Committee sends the bill to the Senate floor, where a lengthy and emotional debate is expected next week on the most high-profile social issue of the 90-day session.
Although the vote in the full Senate is expected to be close, leadership of both parties on Thursday predicted passage. The legislation would then move to the House of Delegates, traditionally the more liberal chamber on social policy.
"I think they're going to pull it out," conceded Senate Minority Leader Nancy C. Jacobs (R-Harford), one of the four committee members who opposed the bill, which would remove Maryland's requirement that marriages be between a man and a woman.
Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) also predicted Thursday that the bill will narrowly pass in his chamber. Maryland would join the District and five other states in allowing same-sex couples to marry.
Shortly after the committee vote, Sen. James C. Rosapepe (D-Prince George's) issued a statement endorsing the legislation. Rosapepe, whose district includes College Park, has been heavily lobbied by university students and others who support the bill.
Rosapepe cited the committee's strengthening of a "conscience clause" intended to make clear that religious organizations and their affiliates do not have to participate in weddings or celebrations that violate their beliefs.
Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Montgomery), who sponsored the amendment, said it was intended to "give comfort" to senators with reservations about the legislation.
"Anything can happen in Annapolis, so I'm still on the edge of my seat," Raskin said...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
Sissy-Mary Land is long gone.
These people are mentally ill.
They should all be removed from office for incapacity.
Yep...they just signed their death certificate.
D=demented. Rotten to their donkey cores.
Placemark for pingout.
Legislators in MD can’t drag the state to hell fast enough.
If only the federal government would have stayed out of the abortion game. We ended up with 50 states allowing abortion and states that never wanted abortion were forced to have it. With gay marriage it is working in the state’s right way which is much better as only the states that want gay marriage will get it and many states will not have to be forced to go through the gay marriage sham. This process is what the founders wanted and not that crappy abortion process.
Question: Do you intend to vote for or against the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act?
For
Sen. James Brochin, Baltimore County Democrat
Sen. Bill Ferguson, Baltimore Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Jennie Forehand, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Brian Frosh, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Rob Garagiola, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Lisa Gladden, Baltimore Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Verna Jones, Baltimore Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Edward Kasemeyer, Baltimore and Howard counties Democrat
Sen. Delores Kelley, Baltimore County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Nancy King, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Allan H. Kittleman, Howard County Republican
Sen. Katherine Klausmeier, Baltimore County Democrat
Sen. Richard Madaleno, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Roger Manno, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Nathaniel McFadden, Baltimore Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Karen Montgomery, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Paul Pinsky, Prince George's County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Catherine E. Pugh, Baltimore Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Victor Ramirez, Prince George's County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Jamie Raskin, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. James Robey, Howard County Democrat
Sen. Ronald Young, Frederick County Democrat (sponsor)
Sen. Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore County Democrat (sponsor)
Against
Sen. Joanne Benson, Prince George's County Democrat
Sen. David Brinkley, Carroll and Frederick counties Republican
Sen. Richard Colburn, Eastern Shore Republican
Sen. Ulysses Currie, Prince George's County Democrat
Sen. James DeGrange, Anne Arundel County Democrat
Sen. Roy Dyson, Southern Maryland Democrat
Sen. George Edwards, Western Maryland Republican
Sen. Joseph Getty, Baltimore and Carroll counties Republican
Sen. Barry Glassman, Harford County Republican
Sen. Nancy Jacobs, Harford and Cecil counties Republican
Sen. J.B. Jennings, Baltimore and Harford counties Republican
Sen. James Mathias, Eastern Shore Democrat
Sen. Thomas Middleton, Charles County Democrat
Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller, Prince George's and Calvert counties Democrat
Sen. C. Anthony Muse, Prince George's County Democrat
Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters, Prince George's County Democrat
Sen. E.J. Pipkin, Eastern Shore Republican
Sen. Edward Reilly, Anne Arundel County Republican
Sen. Christopher Shank, Washington County Republican
Sen. Bryan Simonaire, Anne Arundel County Republican
Sen. Norman Stone, Baltimore County Democrat
No public position/Undecided
Sen. John Astle, Anne Arundel County Democrat
Sen. Joan Carter Conway, Baltimore Democrat
Sen. James Rosapepe, Prince George's County Democrat
Contact them to let them know that we are watching very closely and they had better vote against this abhorrent bill. We have long memories.
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More insane evil perversion promoting "law".
This is wrong. Yes, some things are actually wrong.
What about the citizens who do not want to fund the expense of adopting this lie that homosexual sex is valued by society absurdity? Do they get a tax payer conscience clause that prohibits their dollars paying any benefits or extending any financial privileges to homosexual sex partners that attain the state created homosexual sex practitioner certificate?
No.
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