Family Policy Network of Maryland » Lawmaker Starts Process for Marriage Referendum in MD

Lawmaker Wants Maryland’s Voters to Decide Marriage Amendment Issue

By Allie Martin – January 30, 2006

(AgapePress) – A Republican delegate in the Maryland General Assembly says voters there should have a chance to decide the fate of a constitutional amendment protecting traditional marriage.

Last week Baltimore City Circuit Judge M. Brooke Murdock overturned a Maryland law that recognized marriage as being valid only between a man and a woman. This Tuesday, a public hearing takes place in Annapolis on a proposed constitutional amendment that would protect traditional marriage.

Don Dwyer, a Republican delegate from Anne Arundel County, says Democratic lawmakers are trying to derail the amendment before it gets out of committee. “The Democrats have the votes to kill the amendment in the House Judiciary Committee,” he explains, “which would preclude us from putting this issue before the voters.”

Dwyer feels the marriage amendment issue has become a political football. “And I think it’s a sad day when partisan politics rules over the moral values of the citizens of the state, which we represent as members of the legislature,” he says.

“If the high court of Maryland concedes with the lower court and supports that opinion,” the conservative delegate continues, “immediately gay marriage will become legalized in Maryland as it is now in Massachusetts — and I think that is not the will of the people.”

Dwyer feels the legislature has the duty and the responsibility to deal with this issue, and to put it before the citizens for a vote. “And we are negligent in our duty and … in regard to our oath of office if we don’t do so,” he asserts.

Also, Dwyer adds that he has plans to begin impeachment proceedings soon against Judge Murdock.