Weddingbee boards

Two delegates who sponsored the bill and were on the House committee considering it walked out rather than vote in favor of it.  If anyone is in Baltimore or PG County, now would be a good time to write your delegate about it.

Things just keep getting more ridiculous!  The bill to allow same-sex marriage in Maryland has now passed the Senate, and made it through the House committee, so it can be voted on by the full House. However, this has been a parade of clowns:

1. Del. Melvin L. Stukes withdrew his co-sponsorship of the bill when he learned that it would extend full marriage benefits to gay couples. He said he thought it provided only for civil unions. So, umm, he didn't actually read it before cosponsoring it?
2. Del. Jill P. Carter, another sponsor, walked out before the initial committee vote was scheduled, leaving it without a majority, in order to get attention paid to some completely unrelated legislation she favored. She finally voted for it after getting assurances regarding the other legislation.
3. Del. Tiffany T. Alston, a third sponsor, said that although she personally continues to support same-sex marriage, she will vote against it because her constituents want her to.
4. Del. Joseph F. Vallario Jr., who has consistently opposed same-sex marriage, nevertheless voted for it in committee, saying he wanted the whole House to get to consider the bill.
5. Del. Sam Arora pledged during his campaign to support same-sex marriage, and got a lot of donations and endorsements from GLBT groups as a result. On January 25, he tweeted about his support for the legislation. Then he deleted his tweet, and said he was thinking and praying about whether to support the bill. Then he said he would vote for the bill in committee, but maybe would vote against it on the House floor. Then he switched again, and said he would vote for it. However, he said he still opposes it, but will vote for it since having the legislation pass is the only way that Marylanders will be able to have a referendum on the subject.

If anyone wants me, I'll be over here, beating my head against a wall!

"dislike"

@daydreamwanderer:  Unfortunately, I don't think there is.  Thank heavens, DC already has same-sex marriage.  And I don't think the delegates are listening to anyone other than their own constituents.

It looks like they are thinking about how this will affect them in 2012

@MissHoneyBun:  You're allowed to.  But it probably won't make a difference.  Legislators pretty much listen only to their own constituents.