The Maryland Senate on Wednesday advanced the same-sex marriage bill on a preliminary vote of 25 to 22. A final Senate vote on the measure, which is likely to mirror the preliminary vote, has been scheduled for Thursday.
Some opponents have threatened a filibuster, but Senate leaders say they are confident they have the votes to end debate.
If the bill passes the Senate, it moves to the House, traditionally the more liberal chamber on social policy. Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) has said he will sign the bill.
washpo.
meanwhile, on the other side of the beltway....
Advocates for tighter restrictions on abortion clinics are starting a last-minute push to get the long-sought measure through the Virginia Senate before the General Assembly's scheduled adjournment on Saturday.
The Virginia House of Delegates added an amendment to a bill this week to reclassify as hospitals abortion clinics that perform five or more first-trimester abortions per month. Abortion facilities are currently regulated as outpatient clinics, similar to the way oral or cosmetic surgery centers are regulated.....
Sen. Mary Margaret Whipple, D-Arlington, pointed out that regulations for hospitals include, for example, having hallways that are wide enough for two gurneys to pass each other.
According to NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, first-trimester abortion providers in Virginia already adhere to regulations from the Board of Health Professions and the Board of Medicine........
Gov. Bob McDonnell supports the amendment, spokesman Tucker Martin said.
"He encourages the Senate to approve this common-sense measure that will ensure all outpatient surgical centers are treated the same, in order to ensure the health and safety of our citizens," Martin said.
Washington Examiner
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