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Democratic legislators flee… SAME-SEX MARRIAGE bill? [Fixed.]

By: Moe Lane (Diary)  |  March 4th, 2011 at 10:24 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

In Maryland?

Apparently. Maryland has been trying to pass a same-sex marriage (SSM) bill for years – the last time they tried, its failure was a genuine shock to SSM supporters – and it did look like the latest version (HB 55, the “Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act”) would pass once it made it through the MD Senate (barely) last week. But before it could goes to the House it has to get through their Judiciary Committee… and on Tuesday two critical Democrats refused to show up for the meeting, thus making the vote impossible. It will probably surprise nobody here to read that both Democrats (Tiffany Allston, Jill Carter) are African-Americans who represent African-American districts; it might surprise some to hear that both are co-sponsors of HB 55. I called the Maryland Assembly this morning: they confirmed that the bill is still stuck in committee, which means (among other things) that possibly Rep. Allston hasn’t made up her mind yet after all. Or is just worried that her constituents won’t change their minds anytime soon.

This is not actually funny, although I concede that people opposed to SSM may legitimately beg to differ with me on that.  Neither is it a case of ends justifying means – and I will not concede that differing on that is legitimate.  The Republic will survive the establishment or non-establishment of same-sex marriages in one or many or all states.  What it cannot survive is the establishment of the ‘principle’ that participating in the democratic process requires you to continue to participate [only when you are winning]*.  If Rep. Allston’s and Rep. Carter’s constituents don’t like HB 55, then those two legislators need to decide whether they agree with their constituents or not.  If they do, they should vote no.  If they don’t, they should vote yes.

Either way, Allston and Carter can then deal with the consequences that come from making a choice – a choice, by the way, that they implicitly volunteered to make by running for office.  These two are no different in spirit than the state Democrats from Indiana and Wisconsin who are hiding out rather than do their jobs, and they should be treated accordingly.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

*[I had somebody point out that I mangled this point horribly.  Corrected, and my bad.]

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COMMENTS

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  • Kyle-MI

    They can always resign and let their constituents choose a new representative. If you can’t stand the heat …

    Seriously, there should be rules in place to curb this type of behavior. In minor chases, docking pay or cutting staff budgets. In more major cases, vacating the seat. In the real world, there are consequences for not showing up to work.

  • http://www.gmsplace.com/ civil_truth

    What it cannot survive is the establishment of the ?principle? that participating in the democratic process requires you to continue to participate even when you are losing.

    I think you in some fashion mean the opposite, though I’m not quite sure how you would want to phrase that. Perhaps “rejection” instead of “establishment”?

    I don’t want to be pedantic, but this is perhaps the key sentence in your whole post here.

  • powertothepeople

    this has to end.

    I do not support SSM in any way shape or form although I do support civil unions. But all that is irrelevant as elected officials are supposed to do their job even if they end up on the losing side.

    You are correct, the republic will not die one way or the other. I think we need to seriously look at how the pro SSM marriage fans have tried to push their will on the populace, but that is a side issue. For now, across this country we need to do something about these reps who refuse to do their job, run and hide, and try to thwart the democratic process by refusing to participate at what they were elected to do. This is yet another example of piss poor losers using devious tactics to stop rightful votes.

    Maybe a nice stint in the local jail will aid in stopping this.

  • http://moelane.com/ Moe Lane

    Fixing now, and thanks.