Great news out of the Free State. After a week of goofy wrangling, delegates backpedaling, then recommitting, the Maryland House of Delegates Judiciary Committee advanced the Civil Marriage Protection Act to the full House of Delegates by a 12-10 vote.
Those who have been following know that the more conservative Maryland Senate passed the bill last week by a 25-21 vote. The thought was that the more liberal House had an easier path for passage, but this week, two delegates held up the bill in Committee, and a third wavered.
Now the bill goes to the full House, where passage is not assured, and the debate will be more contentious than in the Senate. But today we can celebrate that this bill has moved one step closer to passage, and one more step closer for equality for all.
If you live in Maryland, I urge you to contact your Delegate today and ask for a yes vote on the bill. There are a lot of Democrats who will vote against this bill unless they hear from you, and we need to keep the pressure on.