Maryland Democrat Delegate Jill Carter Throws Tantrum And Threatens To Derail Passage Of Civil Marriage Protection Act; A Same Sex Marriage Supporter She Stages Walkout Demanding Two Bills She Sponsors Be Fast-Tracked

The Baltimore Sun reports on the actions of Maryland Delegate Jill Carter (Democrat-Baltimore) who said Tuesday that she is reluctant to vote on legislation that would legalize same sex marriage until other issues, including a child custody bill and education funding, gain support in the General Assembly in 2011. Carter was one of two delegates supportive of same sex marriage who staged a walkout Tuesday morning during a specially scheduled vote on the marriage proposal, a bill that has already been approved by the Senate and had been expected to clear the House committee Tuesday. But Carter said there are issues "more important, or at least equally important" that she would want fast-tracked in the way that, in her opinion, same sex marriage has been. And she said that until she hears from House leadership, she does not plan to cast a committee vote in favour of the Civil Marriage Protection Act. Carter is a critical vote. The House Judiciary Committee contains only exactly enough "yes" votes to get the same-sex marriage proposal out of committee and to the House floor for debate by the entire 141-member chamber. Carter said lawmakers should be devoting their energy to restoring education funding cuts to Baltimore and Prince George's County (Governor Martin O'Malley's budget plan calls for several million dollars in reduced funding to those two jurisdictions) and to her own bill providing a presumption of joint custody to divorcing couples. She said that while she believes in the civil rights of gay and lesbian couples who want to marry, she wants to "send a message to leadership" that there are other critical issues, too. "It's important, but there's other very important things," she said. Carter added that there is no need to "fast-track" gay marriage since the 90-day session is only about half over and lawmakers are in their first year of a four-year term. She said she is "absolutely" willing to take a hit for withdrawing her support on same sex marriage if it makes a larger point about her favoured issues. "I'm trying to leverage the vote to get something for my constituents," she said. Carter predicted the Judiciary Committee would not vote on gay marriage until House leadership has appeased her. "They can't vote for the bill without my vote." The other delegate absent from the House Judiciary Committee Tuesday morning was Delegate Tiffany Alston (Democrat-Prince George County). By Tuesday evening, the House Judiciary Committee did not vote on same-sex marriage this evening, and delegates on the committee, even some same sex marriage sponsors, say they require more time to consider the act. Committee Chairman Joseph F. Vallario says he will assess the situation Wednesday and determine how to proceed. Republicans are angry, arguing that the Democratic leadership is making too many accommodations for a bill that they say a majority of Maryland residents do not support.