NEWS RELEASE
March 25, 2005

EQUALITY MARYLAND
Contact: Dan Furmansky, Executive Director
Phone:    Office 301-587-7500
Cell    301-461-4900
Email:  dan@equalitymaryland.org

SENATE PASSES MEDICAL DECISION MAKING ACT

Dear Friends:

Today's Gazette newspaper stated "the gay rights lobby is poised to have its most successful legislative session since Gov. Parris N. Glendening (D) muscled through a broad anti-discrimination law in 2001."

We here at Equality Maryland won't argue - we did it!

Today, the Medical Decision Making Act passed the Maryland Senate by a veto-proof majority, 31-16.

Before a vote is taken, legislators have an opportunity to rise and explain their votes in favor or against a bill. The speeches were impassioned, to say the least. First up was Sen. Alex Mooney (R-Frederick), who stated that the bill was about "promoting a radical homosexual agenda." He warned that its passage would ensure that Maryland would get to a point where "traditional Judeo-Christian values will be destroyed."

Sen. Paul Pinsky (D-Prince George's County) countered. "It's not about a radical homosexual agenda," he said. "It's about a homophobic agenda." Pinsky urged a "yes" vote, citing the need for the bill because of those hospital personnel that have barred individuals from being with their partners when it most counts. "Many of those couples have been together for longer than many of us have been with our spouses," he said.

Four other senators spoke against the bill. "I think we all understand what it's intended to do," said Sen. Norman Stone (D-Baltimore County), just minutes before hitting the red button to indicate a "no" vote.

Sen. Nancy Jacobs (R-Cecil & Harford Counties) talked about her cousin who she "loves dearly," and her partner of 25 years, and how they don't "need any of this."

"We all know what this bill's intentions really are," she said.

Some senators qualified their "no" votes. Sen. David Brinkley (R-Frederick and Carroll Counties) said he felt it was "the wrong way to address a legitimate concern." Sen. Leo Green (D-Prince George's County) said he related to discrimination, since he had experienced discrimination as an Irishman and a Catholic. "But there are many unintended consequences," he said. "I'm voting on a public policy issue."

Far more senators spoke in favor of the Medical Decision Making Act, including:

Sen. Paula Hollinger (D-Baltimore County), chair of the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, who served as the primary defender of the bill on the floor

Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore City), who was the primary sponsor the legislation

Sen. James Brochin (D-Baltimore County), who cited the compelling stories of those who had testified before his committee

Sen. Sharon Grosfeld (D-Montgomery County), who corrected those legislators who insisted that all of the items in the bill could be accomplished through legal paperwork

Sen. Ida Ruben (D-Montgomery County), who urged colleagues to see "the positive side of what this does" and stop "focusing on a segment of society that you make not like."

Sen. Len Teitelbaum (D-Montgomery County), who said that most senators would never know if the two women who lived together down the street were sisters or partners, but that the sisters would have these rights as next of kin, while the partners would not

Sen. Delores Kelley (D-Baltimore County) who cited the elderly widows in her district who are living with partners but choosing not to remarry for fear of losing social security.

Please send a note to those senators who championed and spoke out for the bill:

paul.pinsky@senate.state.md.us
leonard.teitelbaum@senate.state.md.us
paula.colodny.hollinger@senate.state.md.us
jim.brochin@senate.state.md.us
joan.carter.conway@senate.state.md.us
ida.ruben@senate.state.md.us
delores.kelley@senate.state.md.us
sharon.grosfeld@senate.state.md.us

Sen. Sandy Schrader (R-Howard County), who was the deciding vote against the bill in Senate Committee last year, erroneously stated that all of the rights in the bill could be accomplished by drafting documents. The Senator spoke of how the rights would not be recognized in other states, which might lull partners into "a false sense of security." (The legislation actually includes provisions mandating education on the importance of advanced directives for those who register as life partners.) "I'm not talking against the concept of the bill," she said. "I'm just concerned the bill doesn't do what everyone thinks it will."

Sen. Schrader voted for the legislation.

Four Republicans joined 27 Democrats in supporting the bill. They include:

Sen. Alan Kittleman (R-Howard County)
Sen. E.J. Pipkin (R-Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's)
Sen. Donald Munson (R-Washington County)
Sen. Sandy Schrader (R-Howard County)

Please thank these legislators for their votes:

allan_kittleman@senate.state.md.us
ej.pipkin@senate.state.md.us
donald_munson@senate.state.md.us
sandra_schrader@senate.state.md.us

Six Democrats broke with party ranks to vote against the bill. They include:

Sen. James DeGrange (D-Anne Arundel County)
Sen. Roy Dyson (D-Calvert Charles & St. Mary's)
Sen. Ralph Hughes (D-Baltimore City)
Sen. Leo Green (D-Prince George's County)
Sen. Philip Jimeno (D-Anne Arundel County)
Sen. Norman Stone (D-Baltimore County)

To listen to today's proceedings with Real Player, visit: http://mlis.state.md.us/asp/listen.asp and click on Senate Session 1 for Friday, March 25, 2005.

The legislation must now be voted on by the House Health and Government Operations Committee, where the bill is sponsored by Committee Chair Del. John Hurson (D-Montgomery County), and then the entire House. Last year, the bill passed the House of Delegates 103-30.

ANOTHER VICTORY TODAY:

In addition to this week's passage of an inclusive hate crimes bill in the House of Delegates and a stunning victory today in the Senate for the Medical Decision Making Act, another bill strongly supported by Equality Maryland jumped a hurdle. HB 1298, by Delegate Anne R. Kaiser (D-Montgomery County), which would exempt domestic partners from the transfer and recordation tax, passed the House Ways & Means Committee today, 19-2. The only two committee members voting against the legislation were Joseph R. Bartlett (R-Frederick County) and D. Page Elmore (R- Somerset & Wicomico Counties).

As always, we will keep you posted as things move forward and alert you when it is time to take action with your elected officials.

Thank you for your support of Equality Maryland - without you, these victories could not have happened.

In partnership and equality,

Dan Furmansky
Executive Director