By Elizabeth Skalski
ANNAPOLIS – The House Judiciary Committee and the House Health and Government Operations Committee voted Feb. 14 to send Gov. Martin O’Malley’s same-sex marriage bill to the floor.
The two committees approved the bill, 25-18.
The vote comes after a Feb. 10 House hearing where committee members heard testimony from supporters and opponents of the controversial bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Maryland.
A similar bill passed in the Senate last year but failed in the House because there weren’t enough votes for the bill to pass. This year’s measure is expected to pass in the Senate but will face a battle in the House.
O’Malley, a Catholic, is sponsoring the bill which promotes the establishment of a new definition of marriage.
Supporters of traditional marriage argue that marriage is an institution that has preceded law and that marriage is between a man and a woman.