Bill defining marriage as one man, one woman is killed in Maryland

Published: 2006-02-09

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- Following a week of political maneuvering, a bill that would have amended the Maryland Constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman was killed in the state's House of Delegates. After learning that supporters of the marriage amendment had collected 47 delegate signatures that would have sent the measure directly to the House floor, Democratic Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch ordered an unusual recess Feb. 2 to prevent lawmakers from voting on the measure. The House Judiciary Committee then killed the measure on a unanimous vote after members changed the bill to allow same-sex civil unions -- a move Republican Minority Whip Anthony J. O'Donnell of Calvert and St. Mary's counties called a "poison pill" designed to guarantee the bill's defeat by altering its original purpose. Richard J. Dowling, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, said he was not surprised it was defeated. He said leaders of the Democratic Party fear that if the amendment passes both houses and goes before Maryland voters in November, the issue will increase support for Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s re-election bid.

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