Senate committee backs gay marriage

Annie Linskey reports:

As expected, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee voted 7-4 Thursday to recognize same-sex marriage. The legislation now goes to the full Senate for debate next week.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller warned senators Thursday to be "flexible" with their evening schedules next week, and said the body might even have to work on the weekend. In addition to same-sex marriage, other issues that evoke passions -- including oyster poaching -- are set to hit the floor.

Miller predicted that debate on same-sex marriage would start in earnest on Tuesday.

"I want everyone to have their say," he said. "When it appears people are repeating themselves, then we will take a cloture vote."

The senate president guessed the final passage vote would come Monday Feb. 28.

Advocates believe they have the votes to cut off debate and bring the legislation to a vote. Whether they have the votes for passage is much less clear. Twenty-three senators have said they'd vote for the bill, but 24 are needed. (See vote list after the jump.)

Three senators have not publicly declared their intentions -- though one, Baltimore's Joan Carter Conway, has hinted that she'll support the bill.

The other two undecided senators faced a scrum of reporters this morning after session. Sen. Jim Rosapepe, who represents College Park, rebuffed questions from WBAL's Dave Collins. Holding his hand up to his face, Rosapepe said: "No, comment." And then quickly walked down the statehouse stairs. Rosapepe has said he will announce his position before the week is out.

Anne Arundel County's Sen. John Astle also wouldn't declare his intentions until the vote is called.

"You'll see it on the board," he said. "Watch it on the board when I cast my vote."

Meanwhile, House leaders have already scheduled a committee hearing for their version of the bill on Friday Feb. 25.

Question: Do you intend to vote for or against the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act?

For

Sen. James Brochin, Baltimore County Democrat

Sen. Bill Ferguson, Baltimore Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Jennie Forehand, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Brian Frosh, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Rob Garagiola, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Lisa Gladden, Baltimore Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Verna Jones, Baltimore Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Edward Kasemeyer, Baltimore and Howard counties Democrat

Sen. Delores Kelley, Baltimore County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Nancy King, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Allan H. Kittleman, Howard County Republican

Sen. Katherine Klausmeier, Baltimore County Democrat

Sen. Richard Madaleno, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Roger Manno, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Nathaniel McFadden, Baltimore Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Karen Montgomery, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Paul Pinsky, Prince George's County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Catherine E. Pugh, Baltimore Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Victor Ramirez, Prince George's County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Jamie Raskin, Montgomery County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. James Robey, Howard County Democrat

Sen. Ronald Young, Frederick County Democrat (sponsor)

Sen. Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore County Democrat (sponsor)

Against

Sen. Joanne Benson, Prince George's County Democrat

Sen. David Brinkley, Carroll and Frederick counties Republican

Sen. Richard Colburn, Eastern Shore Republican

Sen. Ulysses Currie, Prince George's County Democrat

Sen. James DeGrange, Anne Arundel County Democrat

Sen. Roy Dyson, Southern Maryland Democrat

Sen. George Edwards, Western Maryland Republican

Sen. Joseph Getty, Baltimore and Carroll counties

Republican Sen. Barry Glassman, Harford County Republican

Sen. Nancy Jacobs, Harford and Cecil counties Republican

Sen. J.B. Jennings, Baltimore and Harford counties Republican

Sen. James Mathias, Eastern Shore Democrat

Sen. Thomas Middleton, Charles County Democrat

Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller, Prince George's and Calvert counties Democrat

Sen. C. Anthony Muse, Prince George's County Democrat

Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters, Prince George's County Democrat

Sen. E.J. Pipkin, Eastern Shore Republican

Sen. Edward Reilly, Anne Arundel County Republican Sen.

Christopher Shank, Washington County Republican

Sen. Bryan Simonaire, Anne Arundel County Republican

Sen. Norman Stone, Baltimore County Democrat

No public position/Undecided

Sen. John Astle, Anne Arundel County Democrat

Sen. Joan Carter Conway, Baltimore Democrat

Sen. James Rosapepe, Prince George's County Democrat