Domestic partner bill passes Maryland legislature
The Maryland Family Protection Lobby has forwarded this report:
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HOUSE PASSES DOMESTIC PARTNER DEFINITION BILL
On March 18, the Senate passed SB566 by a vote of 30-17. Today, April 4, the House of Delegates passed SB566 by a vote of 89-45.
After some excellent floor debate by several Republican Delegates that pointed out the lack of necessity for establishing a Domestic Partnership definition in Maryland, the bill was passed quickly by the imbalanced majority.
Several legislators voting for the bill were confused by the emotionally laden title, Health Care Facility Visitation and Medical Decisions - Domestic Partners. This title and the emotional testimony left them to believe that couples, both same sex and opposite sex, were being deprived of basic human decency and were entitled to benefits that had been created to assist and encourage families, made up of a married husband, wife and children.
If the Governor signs the bill, which he has said he would, young couples cohabitating and senior couples living together in order to beat social security and pension rules will now have sanction for that behavior by Maryland law. It should be wrong to pass a law in order to get around another, existing law.
Following quickly and quietly behind is SB597 which will exempt these same domestic partners from transfer and recordation taxes. This is another law originally established to protect the continuation of home ownership for a family that would lose one spouse. This bill has passed the second reader and could be passed as early as tonight or tomorrow.
I read a commentary earlier today by Bill Wilson where he made this all too true observation. “The condition of our nation can be blamed on all who know the truth, but allow the lie.” I talked with several legislators who said several times during my discussion with them, “Good point.” But they still, knowing the truth, bought the lie. Now that they’ve fallen for the little one, it will be so much easier for them to fall for the big one.
When we get the recorded votes, early next week, we will make it available to you on our website.
Family Protection Lobby
Doug Stiegler
Executive Director
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See also: the Association of Maryland Families
More information about the bills is also available on the Maryland General Assembly website.