State Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill
Law goes to governor for signature and a likely referendum challenge.
Sen. Richard Madaleno, a Montgomery County Democrat who is openly gay, hugs fellow Montgomery County Democratic Sen. Jennie Forehand after the Maryland Senate passed same-sex marriage legislation by a vote of 25-22. The bill now goes to Gov. Martin O'Malley for his signature.
Bryan P. Sears
Photos (1)
Photos
The Maryland State Senate passed same-sex marriage by a 25-22 vote Thursday night.
The passage of the bill comes less than a week after the House of Delegates passed the identical bill.
The bill now goes to Gov. Martin O'Malley for his signature.
The law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2013 is expected to face a referendum challenge and could end up on the November ballot along with the bill that grants in-state tuition rates to some children of illegal immigrants.
| Prince George's County Votes |
|||
|
Name |
Party |
District | Vote |
| James Rosapepe | D | 21 | Yes |
| Paul Pinsky | D | 22 | Yes |
| Douglas Peters | D | 23 | No |
| Joanne Benson | D | 24 | No |
| Ulysses Currie | D | 25 | No |
| C. Anthony Muse | D | 26 | No |
| Thomas V. Mike Miller | D | 27 | No |
| Victor Ramirez | D | 47 | Yes |
Bob
8:57 am on Monday, February 27, 2012
Here's what I see is going to happen: Gov O'Malley will sign the bill on Tuesday or Wednesday, with great fanfare. The Church Leaders will get together and get enough signatures to put it on the ballot in Nov, with pro-marriage people calling them names ('intolerant', "homophobe". "bigots", "religious fanatics", etc) and challenging most every name that is on the petitions. It will then become the 32nd time this has been put to the people of a state for a vote, as it often happens when State Legislatures take the politically expedient over the desires of voters, and will undoubtedly become the 32nd time the measure is defeated. It will then go to the courts, where activists judges will overturn the vote, eventually ending up at the Supreme Court.
My wonder here would be the actions taken by the pro-marriage groups will be if the Supreme Court sides with the traditionalists. I believe they will demand the 10th Amendment be honored and the state's would have the right to make their own rules (something they deny those opposed to the "Roe vs Wade" ruling).