Politico -- turns out -- has DREAM and Question 6 #s swapped. So Question 6 not a given but is leaning toward being upheld. DREAM is a sure thing.

Thanks for the update on that.

Better get informed....Lots of other stuff in this law than just marriage.

Exact language:

1) Establishes that Maryland’s civil marriage laws allow gay and lesbian couples to obtain a civil marriage license, provided they are not otherwise prohibited from marrying;

2) Protects clergy from having to perform any particular marriage ceremony in violation of their religious beliefs;

3) Affirms that each religious faith has exclusive control over its own theological doctrine regarding who may marry within that faith;

5) Provides that religious organizations and certain related entities are not required to provide goods, services, or benefits to an individual related to the celebration or promotion of marriage in violation of their religious beliefs.

That's all that is in this law. Anything else claimed is false and just opinion on what the consequences of the law ~might~ be (according to their perceptions).

He should be more than welcome down South in the bible belt. Maybe you should head down there too. My gay brother and his husband in Texas will gladly switch places with you and "God".

How right your are!! The difference in the election were the last words of obama "vote for revenge" the words of Mitt Romney "vote for the love of your country". Evidently revenge works best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My God still lives in Maryland. I am not sure who is your god who has just moved out?

@betty
[citation needed]

@WHW
He can go join Santa at the North Pole with all the other fairy tales :)

Ignoring the fact that there is more evidence proving the existence of global warming than there is the existence of this "God" fellow, I'm not really concerned with where he decides to take up residence. Furthermore, even if this magical bearded spaceman exists we are a democracy not a theocracy so your religious beliefs (and those of anyone else) are irrelevant in this regard. The only effect gay marriage is going to have on those that don't support it is the nagging feeling that maybe their ignorant beliefs need to be reexamined.

Don't forget they still elect Marion Barry in D.C! Plus half the people have their hand out to the government. Don't want to work....but want the money that the taxpayer (I would guess you would call the taxpayers ..the workers) pay the government for working. I expect people will get tired of working to give to thos that don't want to work. Lets see how the U.S. does when everyone stops working and the government has to pay out.

I love how if something passes in one's favor, even by a slim margin, it's because the majority were smart. However, if something wanted is lost, by said slim margin, than the majority is stupid.

Grow up.

The only thing more "stupid" than wanting to restrict minority rights, is being angered and shocked when right-wing legislation doesn't pass in Maryland. We are one of the first states where the citizens (actual people, not corporation "people") have united to give the LGBT minority some of the same rights their heterosexual counterparts already enjoy. If anything I am proud that our state is patriotic enough to understand that we ALL deserve equal rights.

Get enough stupid people behind you and:
(1) You can run a candidate as a "fiscal Conservative" who then signs a law prohibiting the government from negotiating with vendors (of drugs) on better pricing. Has any other President ever done such a thing?! Since when does the Federal government hand away its right to negotiate?!
(2) You can keep running patently uninformed candidates like Sarah Palin, George W. Bush, Todd Akin, and Richard Murdoch. Helpful study points for future candidates: First, rape is bad. Second, woman get pregnant from intercourse.
(3) You have Karl Rove wasting ~$300,000,000 of other people's money to NOT win elections.
(4) You have Linda McMahon wasting $100,000,000 of her own money to NOT win a Senate campaign. Twice.
(5) Your political party can claim to be fiscally conservative, despite that fact that the last time an Administration spent less in successive years was 50+ years ago; under Eisenhower.
(6) They'll believe the Patron Saint of Conservatism (Ronald Reagan) was in favor of smaller government, despite the fact that Federal employment rolls and spending grew every single year under his administration.

"... half the people have their hand out to the government. Don't want to work....but want the money that the taxpayer (I would guess you would call the taxpayers ..the workers) pay the government for working. I expect people will get tired of working to give to thos that don't want to work. Lets see how the U.S. does when everyone stops working and the government has to pay out."

We long ago arrived at your nightmare future Betty! The financial sector has had their hand out for decades. Most recently:
(1) If you are a financier behind a student loan security, you are guaranteed to not loose money on your "investment", no matter how bad it is... and it is bad, Betty: the 5 year default rate on private, for-profit college loans is 40%! No normal financial market could possibly survive such incompetent underwriting. But this market is not normal Betty. It has been rigged by our society's #1 Picked Winners: the financial sector.

By the way, the current Administration did a single thing to "improve" the above situation: they decided to not give that "industry" (which lacks anything of the kind) an additional 3% risk-free profit. You'll be amused to learn that Fox News and the rest of the right wing blowhard brigade lambasted this as a "government takeover" of a "private industry". Gobbels would have approved of such cynical co-opting of language!

Well, if you think about it, about half of the population in the USA is below average in intelligence. Also, about half is above average in intelligence.

And yes, I know average (mean) is not the same thing as median.

Based on your remark, I suspect you are in the group I talked about, congratulations.

I believe Rush Limbaugh will be packing it in and moving to Canada. Hope his bus can accommodate all the unhappy second place supporters.

Laughing over the thought of anyone threatening to move to Canada over the results of this election....

This is addressed to Online Addict:

Why do you think Mr. Obama being reelected would cause Mr. Limbaugh to flee the country? Mr. Obama's reelection gives Mr. Limbaugh 4 more years to critique a democratic president - isn't that what his show is all about?

along with Hillary

So if supporting marriage equality makes one a homosexual then by the same logic one who supports Mitt Romney is a polygamist. Seems pretty sound to me.

DISCUSTED TO BE IN MARYLAND.

Same here, Bart! Very proud of my fellow Maryland citizens today!

Thanks for your support Bart!

DISCUSTED (sic) TO BE IN MARYLAND... WITH THE LIKES OF BETTY SOPER

Betty Soper, you are embarrassing yourself and Maryland. Please shut up.

Agreed Bart. I'm very proud that our state is one of the few where the citizenry understand the true meaning of equality and don't base all of their decisions on what flavor of the Bible is popular that week.

Pat, clearly you are one of the brilliant ones.

I THINK GOD LEFT MARYLAND. Waiting for the implementation of obama's religion and we will all have to go and pray on Friday with the muslims.

OMG! There's a Black man in office! The Mayans were right! The Barackalypse is upon us! Beware the Chemtrails and Commie Conspiracies! Stock up on gas masks and guns because WW3 is here! WOLVERINES!

</sarcasm>

Canada, which borders on the magnificent, will gladly let you in. And remember what Akin and Mourdock have to say, "It is God's will." So as you head out, remember God is watching.

Obama supporters are laughing it up and ignoring what is happening to the country. The market diving today is just the beginning. At some point we will have to pay back the 16 trillion and will lose our ability to borrow from anyone. Obama has absolutely no plan on how to do any of this. Enjoy the day but at some point there won't be enough tax payers or other countries to borrow money to support the non tax payers that voted Obama back in. Most people here are probably tax payers so this terrible choice will affect us all.

God is still on His throne, and Betty just showed us for sure that she is in the below-average-intelligence crowd.

But if rape is part of God's plan then surely marriage equality, and marijuana legalization are as well?

Now as for the rest of your post it painfully clear you are unaware of how the U.S. economy works, let alone the executive branch of government. Choosing to live in ignorance is one thing, but at the very least you should have some understanding in regards to the claims you are making.

If you were informed.....for every dollar from the gambling that goes into education a dollar is taken out and used somewhere else....more for o'mally to spend. The amount of money in the education fund never increases. You have a computer....educate yourself.

Holy smug batman.

Betty is right. The politicians in MD are playing the old shell game. They claim the money is "for the children". All they are doing is replacing money from other sources. The amount of money for public education is dictated by law. For this year it is $5.3 billion. The money gambling will not increase this amount. The people of MD will never learn, and keep voting these people in office.

Hahahaha, Mo. Don'cha know not to trust Martin, Mike & Mike? Didn't read the bill on that one either, did you?

The gambling bill is a sham. I'm disappointed that passed. Betty, I more or less agree with you on this subject.
Also disappointed in the dream act, illegal is illegal. It's an insult to every immigrant who goes through the gauntlet to get here the right way.

How did anyone get from my statement that I'm for slots? I was informed which is why I made the decision I made yesterday. Maybe my grammar was off but to make it clear: "I am happy that gays can marry and everyone in Maryland has the opportunity to be educated. However, I am feeling much apprehension about slots being passed. I hope that the money generated will go to the programs as promised."
Now that the election is over, all that we as citizens can do is see how things pan out. That being said, let's be nice, eh? We're all in this together and overall, I am proud to be a Marylander today.

You forgot to add one more thing to your stolen car analogy that makes it more in line with this new law. If the mother gave the stolen car to the daughter, who didn't know it was stolen,and the daughter drove it for a couple of years,(benefited from parents illegal act) you would agree that she should be able to keep the car even if it was discovered to be stolen. Sorry, I will never agree that this law is either a good law or one that makes sense. It, like many others, was done for political reasons and not for the good of the citizens of Maryland. If you don't believe that, I guess you think the gambling expansion was "for the children"

"You forgot to add one more thing to your stolen car analogy that makes it more in line with this new law. If the mother gave the stolen car to the daughter, who didn't know it was stolen,and the daughter drove it for a couple of years,(benefited from parents illegal act) you would agree that she should be able to keep the car even if it was discovered to be stolen."

That doesn't work, Milt. You see, if you innocently obtain stolen items (e.g., you buy something from a pawn shop) and the police later determine what you obtained was stolen, you don't get to keep it ever. How do I know this? I was robbed a few months ago and the police found the stuff he took when he sold it to a local jewelry store. I'll get it back after the trial. The jeweler is out the money and becomes one of the victims of the crime.

In this case, no one is stealing anything. You can't even legitimately claim they're stealing your tax dollars. The ballot measure passed fair and square -- and by a large margin, I might add. I agree that there was a political element to the whole thing, but I think we all benefit by making those with the skills and intellect to get a degree more employable. They pay more taxes that way.

Read the remainder of items in the dream act. They just don't get in-state tuition. What about the kids that live in Va., N.C.. They have to pay out-of-state. Maryland wentdownhill this election.

No betty, the kids in Va. or NC can pay in-state tuition too. They just have to pay it to the state they live in, like these kids.

Don't worry we won't. I voted against it but not because it's going to have any effect on taxes or what college my children go to. Just thought that the idea of an "illegal" get standard resident benefits was wrong. Why not solve the problem by making the student in question "legal", if there's an acceptable way to do it. If not then the parents of the "illegal" who created the problem need to solve the problem, not the state.

Getting into Maryland state schools is already very difficult even for the best students. Now it will be more difficult. Nice when your straight A student has To hope they can get into the school that their taxes and their parents taxes pay for. Thanks Maryland for rewarding those that broke our laws. Does the word "illegal" mean anything?

@Mitt - it doesn't take straight As to get into a community college or transfer in your junior year to a four year school.

@FIFA- I understand that but the point is in most other states, the state provides quotas for their in state students to insure they get the first choice in their state schools. Maryland doesn't and now we will give tuition discounts to illegals- another reason for maryland to increase out of state enrollment and make it harder for in state students. I think if you want to allow them to go to school in state that is fine. Give them a reward and incentive to be here legally, not illegally. I just don't get where the word "illegal" is simply ignored. If so, why do we even have laws to make people follow to be here legally?

@Mitt - It is my opinion that plenty of open chairs exist for any student who wishes to put two years in at a community college and then transfer as a junior into a four year college. The typical drop out rate for freshman is fifty percent. Thus the empty chairs for qualified junior transfers.

FIFA. I understand. But I know the experience of attending and living at the college of your choice has value above attending a community college. I already put one child through college and have another one about to attend. Why should she be forced to attend a community college when her real wish has always been to attend the University of Maryland? She was always told if you study hard and do your best you will achieve your goal. This law has a direct affect on her and others like her. I know an admissions director in another state and he unequivacolly told me this law will make it tougher for her to get into her school of choice in her home state. So she will be negatively affected in her goals by the children of ILLEGAL immigrants. Nobody is stopping them from going to school. Just don't give them a reward for being here ILLEGALLY. If you immigrated here and have come here LEGALLY, then you should get the reward of in state maryland tuition. If not, you can stil go but you should be the one to go to communi college and then transfer and pay the same rate as a LEGAL immigrant from outside the state. It really is an absurd law by a state that rewards illegal acts.

Mitt, this law does not affect your child's chances of attending Maryland as a freshman. The undocumented kid is not competing for a place at Maryland as a freshman unless they are willing to pay out of state tuition. Most undocumented kids come from poor families and cannot afford the 30,000 plus to go to Maryland as a freshman.

FIFA. If the illegal (like how you use the word undocumented-why not call them what they are, ILLEGAL) gets "documented, they don't have to pay 30k like all other residents. If they want it that bad, it's well worth the process for the tens of thousands of dollars they are saving. I cannot afford 30k either-that's why my child is aiming for a Maryland state school. And the fact is Maryland does not have unlimited slots available for new students, whether transfers or freshman . My point is that many of these ILLEGALs have had YEARS to get LEGAL and chose not to do so. Let's not reward them for their inaction and failure to live by the rules we all do as citizens.

Mitt, the reason I choose not to use the word "illegal" is because I don't call children who came here because their parents forced them "criminals". Perhaps you like to call them that to attract attention. You lost the vote by a large amount. Deal with it, it is not going to change your life one bit.

So their parents are the criminals and the ones who get the financial advantage for breaking the laws. Great concept. And your generalization that they are poor is not correct. And if they are, then get documented and get student loans like residents. Low interest and easy to get. Or how about this: Two years at community college and two years of out of state tuition is equal to the 4 year cost of in state tuition. Why shouldnt they take that route instead?

Mitt, you are re-litigating the debate that the voters just decided. It is my opinion that this "extra" student does not cost us one nickel. The community colleges have empty seats so getting in-state tuition is a bonus to us. Junior transfers fill empty seats as well in four year schools. The parents and the child live here, pay taxes of some sort here, and I believe are entitled to pay in-state tuition. That is what the referendum was all about. I believe it now qualifies as settled law unless you can get it changed. Good luck on that front.

Regarding wealthy, have you ever seen a wealthy "illegal" cutting grass or cleaning hotel rooms?

Mitt,

This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I will show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.

Matt, here is the red pill: "The Dream Act applies to access to community college first, which is open enrollment, so no slots of Maryland students are at risk. Students who complete 60 credits at a community college and qualify for acceptance to a four-year public college/university also do not impact other in-state applicants. The legislation specifically addresses this issue by indicating the in-state:out-of-state ratio maintained at each college/university should count students admitted under the Dream Act towards the out-of-state allotment. Students admitted under the Dream Act cannot be counted in the ratio of in-state students and therefore are not taking seats at our four-year institutions from other Marylanders."

Matt, please take the red pill! Please ....for goodness sake!

FIFA. We can agree to disagree. I just find it horrible public policy to give someone a benefit for breaking the law. Whether it affects me or not, i have researched this and believe i will absolutely be negatively impacted. But even if it doesn't, that shouldn't mean we endorse a bad law. Go get documented and enjoy all the state offers . If you don't follow the rules, you pay the consequences- been taught that and teaching that forever. Our society has been losing the concept of accountability over time. This is another example. This takes it to an extreme by not only lacking accountability but also rewarding the bad action.

Mitt = Matt = Milt.

You are right FiFi, bad eyes to blame. Be careful, people have called me lots of names including fifi, fido, etc.

Apologies to Milt.

FIFI. No pills needed. If you don't think that this act will cost the taxpayers of Maryland money, you are kidding yourself. Also, there are only so many total slots available at any school. Illegal (thats the key word) immigrants will be taking slots (the number isn't infinite) from LEGAL citizens and Maryland schools will be getting less money than they would had they used the slot for an out of state LEGAL student. Again, we are rewarding these families for breaking the law. Why have a legal process for becoming a citizen if you can just ignore it and get a benefit for ignoring it? There absolutely is a taxpayer cost for,this at a time when we least need an additional cost.

Janet, maybe I've been operating under a mistaken impression, but I believed that conservatives were all about meritocracy and indvidual achievement. So.... if someone's kid doesn't get into the college of his or her choice because a better-qualified "illegal" takes his or her place, we should all be rejoicing, as the merit sytems is working, right? It's kind of like, back in the Dark Ages, when I, a woman, applied to and was admitted to the law school of my choice, and one of my father's evangelical Christian friends complained to my dad (as if that would have changed my decision or affected my actions) that I'd kept a man who wanted to support a family out of law school. My dad, the original conservative Republican meritocrat, replied, "Yes, she kept a less-qualified man who wants to support a family out of law school." You can't have it both ways, can you?

As for rewarding illegality, it's the parents who broke the law, not the kids. Should we REALLY have expected a bunch of pre-schoolers to have told their parents, "No, Mama and Papa, we can't go to los Estados Unidos! That would be illegal." Give me a break.

What are you saying, Janet? Are you suggesting that your kid is unable to get into their college of choice because the other children are more qualified? Though toenails! I don't think keeping other kids out so that yours can attend is fair or a service to the state and country. We want the best, not the "deserving".

So Edie under you're concept of not punishing the child for the parents illegal activity, if a child's parents commit fraud and don't pay rent for their home ( and never try to make an effort to pay the rent) the landlord shouldn't evict them and shouldnt be allowed to evict them because the child wasn't responsible and should not be put out of their home. The law should instead reward the parents for failing to do what the law says. Got It.

"if a child's parents commit fraud and don't pay rent for their home ( and never try to make an effort to pay the rent) the landlord shouldn't evict them and shouldnt be allowed to evict them because the child wasn't responsible and should not be put out of their home" That's different. Renting a house or apartment is a contractual arrangement, normally between private parties. If someone breaches a contract, you go after them. If the landlord didn't keep his part of the bargain, the tenant could go after him, too. Here, we're talking about what the state does, not what a private party does. Big difference. It's like if I stole someone's car -- the State of Maryland wouldn't hold my daughter responsible unless she were also involved in the crime. They wouldn't put her on trial for being my child, though.

The ballot measure passed. Get over it.

Not all of us "sheep" voted for every referendum question. A lot of Democrats, including myself, voted no on some and yes on some. Immigration, gambling, and gay marriage are so totally different issues that many people, both Republican and Democrat voted differently on each of them.

I just love how some people are so blinded by their own party lines they presume that other people act just like them.

For the record, I voted NO on questions 4, 5, and 7... of the referendums, I only supported Same-Sex Marriage. Most of them were really close, so you can't say that it was divided on party lines.

Also, what was wrong with Questions 1-3? They were Constitutional Amendments requiring county judges be able to practice law in the state they're serving in... and stating that elected officials found guilty (even before conviction) are kicked out. What was wrong with supporting those?

Frank of Elkridge, I am a Baltimorian myself and a democrat and I am utterly suprized at how Every Single Referendum Question Passed. It's like they were brainwashed by the megaphone buses in their neighborhoods (its funny how they covered up the name of the bus company that owns those busses) and the pamplets they were given to them when entering the their polling place telling they what to vote for (may I ask what does gambling, gay marriage, ophans court judges, redistricting, and economic development funds have in common?) When 88% of voters voted to require that ophan's court judges be lawyers, there is something seriosly wrong here.

Brook, you must understand I am not talking about any individual person, I am talking about the voting population as a whole being hearded into whatever their leaders decide. When ALL referendum questions for the statewide election pass and ALL ballot question in the city pass, whether it is a social/economic/electoral question, it becomes easy to say that the population is being hearded.

Question Matt, do you know what an orphan's court judge does? You should look it up.

http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/business/maryland-live-hauls-in-more-than-m-daily/article_14164c69-f8d7-53cd-82c4-fb1c009c32e5.html

~$20 million to the Education Trust Fund. Every. Single. Month.

I think people didn't understand what they were voting for with question 5. Gerrymandering is a political tool that needs to be understood.

You don't need a SSN to pay taxes. You can use a Taxpayer Identification Number. A Taxpayer Identification Number can be issued to a foreign national.

I have to jump in on all the RIDICULOUS comments you repeatedly posted here Ms. Soper. It is clear from your asinine (do you know what that word means...see Websters for assistance) comments that you are not clear on the LAW or any law. I am not for giving anyone "illegal" greater rights than legal citizens of the US. However, I voted for the Dream Act because it does not treat these children brought (against their will in most cases) into this country by their parents a leg up on education versus their legal counterparts. Have you read the Dream Act in its entirety? I have! Do you know how many hoops a kid has to jump before he can pay in-state tuition? A lot! This includes paying taxes before enrollment;residing in the state for a specific period of time; attending a qualifying highschool in Maryland for a specific period of time; clean criminal record. And then ...these students only qualify for community college first! No U of M for them. Later, if they and their legal guardians do right by the state and they keep their grades up, the student can transfer to a 4-year college and pay in-state tution. And honey....if an employee is using his bosses SS card to pay taxes ..then that employee's child WOULD NOT QUALIFY for in-state tutition because the money paid for taxes would be paid under the bosses name. I love open comments from the public, but please make sense and don't let your PREJUDICES foul up the works.

I don't believe that betty's comments are ridiculous at all. There is a tremendous amount of corruption when it comes to illegals. The "Dream Act" gives them more incentive to have their babies here so they can keep reaping the freebies. "Only" qualify for community college? I've lived here all my life, worked hard and am going to college and I can only afford one class per semester at a community college because the government has destroyed our economy and times are tough. There is no PREJUDICE when you are talking about ILLEGAL. Let them go back to their parent's country and get an education there. What's wrong with their education system? Why do they have to go to college here? Who cares how many hoops people involved with those here illegally have to endure? I can't believe how complacent people are being about those breaking the law. I don't care how old their children were when they came here. Become legal and then we'll talk.

Perry Parent,

In-state tuition does not equal FREE schooling. These same folks have to come up with the money to pay for schooling. And think about this ... it may be easier for you to get a loan for school than them? I see that you are upset by "only" going to a community college -- but you have the freedom to choose to go to a 4-year without showing proof that your parents paid taxes. They don't. I see where you are coming from with regard to giving the illegal parents the very thing they crossed the border to get -- a better life for their children while breaking the law -- and this will only give other illegal parents the idea that breaking the law will still get them a better life for their kids. I have a hang up with that issue too -- which is why I thorougly researched the law before voting. I just think that this is the better solution than continuing to have a "slave" class of workers out there -- it just feels wrong. Until our government can come up with a better solution (to stem the tide of illegals -- and actually enforce the current laws now so that more don't come into the country) -- I vote educate.

And that boss will go to jail when they catch him. I used to represent construction companies who desperately wanted to hire undocumented immigrants because they'd picked them up as day laborers and were impressed with their work ethic. The employers never liked it when I told them about the potential consequences they faced for doing that. The employer you reference here is playing with fire.

News flash, PerryHall. If they have their babies here, those babies are US citizens, at least the last time I checked.

Betty, Perry Hall et al: Unless you are Native American, we all come from immigrants. In all fairness, let them make a better life for themselves as our ancestors did. Read the plaque on the Statue of Liberty...Give me your tired your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, etc. That is the essence of the US.

FiFi, I suggest you peel back the onion a little bit and do a little research. UMD receives 1.044 billion dollars per year from tax payer dollars. This offsets the cost of in state tuition by a 2:1 ratio. Did you really think they were just being nice to us for living here? So for you and anyone else who thinks this will have no impact on the average MD citizen, think again. As these helpless children who had no choice in the matter are filling "empty seats" in community colleges or state universities we are paying $2 for every $1 that they pony up. I have absolutely nothing against American citizens getting an education through my tax dollars, but I'll be darned if I am willing to pay one red cent for someone's child who crossed the border illegally to benefit from my tax dollars. What kind of exapmle are they setting for their children, if they avoid using our immigration system to illegally enter the country and then find ways to continue taking advantage of our hospitality. And yes this affects me greatly as I have a student in UMD and have seen my tuition bills increase by +7% for each of the last 3 years. So much for the Governor's moratorium on tuition costs. As I am trying to save up enough money to send my next son through college I am wondering what my state might be able to do to ease the burden on me. A law-abiding, legal MD/US citizen, and a VET.

Psst B.A. - I'll guess you'll be damned (sp), because you'll pay. They do too.

Thank you for your service by the way.

Psst. FIFA- no I won't because I told my son he is going to pay for any further increases in tuition. Hopefully he will learn one of the most important lessons in life. You reap what you sow. If people would do a little more research using factual data instead of relying on the media to deliver it with a spin, we would not have to put up with you un-educated trolls acting like you've won something. When in reality you have played right into the hands of the political machine and taken many ignorant sheep with you.

B.A., the UMD System portion of our budget is just about 3% of total spending. I feel for your son. Punish him, because you lost the vote. I don't punish kids for the failings of their parents.

FIFA- of course you do and just did by voting for this measure. By voting for the dream act you are ensuring that tuitions will increase for all. Remember, reap what you sow. So 3%= 1.044 billion is nothing to you. It is that type of thinking that gave us a $16 trillion debt which will also punish our children. See how that works.

Your lack of understanding of finance and your reliance on talking points is apparent. This bill cost you nothing. Have a good day. Good luck to your son.

Agree with Marijuana legalization. I like what Washington did. It's revenue waiting to be collected by states, which in turn will reduce reliance on federal block grants.
This, in turn, will reduce federal government spending - which gets us closer to a balanced budget again.

Green I am with you - wish I was baked right now so I wouldn't feel so pissed off

"more gambling revenue to pay for gay marriage benefits"... gee, Georgie, does that mean that gay people have been paying for straight marriage benefits all these years? Must be nice to feel entitled to have a special right and have a minority pay for your personal desire to boink only heterosexuals. Idiot.

Guess ol' Georgie here has never heard of that pesky old Equal Protection Clause.

There just wasn't enough education about the redistricting. For every one of 'us' who knew what it was, there was probably 5 people who didn't.

I also think it's an absolute tragedy that the question didn't include a map of the before/after redistricting. It wasn't even in the sample ballot, which I find unacceptable.
It passed due to ignorance, intentionally perpetrated ignorance.

I agree with Tim...the map, if you know anything about MD was all about grouping racial and economic groups and not regional representation. How much can Baltimore be represented in congress when it is in 3 districts that primarly serve areas outside of the city including Harford, Howard, Anne Arundel, and Baltimore Counties? We could have circled the Beltway and made that into a district (it would include roughly 1/8 of Maryland's population) and would have served Baltimore quite well. It's baffeling why this redistricting passed (I guess MD is a bunch of ignorant sheep)...

Tim .. I agree with you. I printed off a sample ballots weeks ago and went through each issue. I even went online to find out more about the redistricting (located some before and after maps...with a breakdown of how the newly drawn map affected each district). Wow ..it was a lot of work to be informed. I think that most people checked "For" on this issue simply because they did not know the ramifications of the changes posed by the redistricting. I voted against it. The forethought that went into the new boundaries was not showing through. It completely made no sense to me and did not tie in (so I thought) with the new census data.

And would everyone who is so against the Dream Act please read it first. Only a handful of "illegals" will even qualify based on the STRINGENT restrictions/requirements under the new law. I for one ..would rather have a more educated workforce than a less educated one.

And how many people do you think he even knew what an Orphan's Court was? Not many! Some thought it probably had to do with what the name says --- orphans -- and their hearts went out when they saw the word. Orphans = For. LOL! Only evil people are against orphans...

Who would have thunk a place like MD had people making legally binding decisions on families and probate issue without a legal license and oversight by the bar counsel? That makes no sense to me.

It IS time consuming to be reasonably informed. Politicians make it this way on purpose, it's not a single party thing. Those who are in power like to stay there, so...

any one who voted against gay marriage is morally corrupt

Ryan - Can you please expand on your statement?

This concept of calling either side morally corrupt is unreasonable.

Every individual is defined by what they do. If you're a jerk in day to day life, if you screw people out of money and other things, if you treat your wife/family poorly, drive like a raging idiot, etc yet believe in only heterosexual marriage and go to Church regularly...does that make you morally righteous?

Not in my view.

If you are a good person in day-to-day life. If you help others when they don't expect it, you're a good parent to your children, a good spouse, or a good friend to those around you...and you believe in gays right to marry purely in the legal sense...does this make you morally bankrupt/corrupt?

Again, not in my view.

To each their own, though.

my guess is the same people that have been wasting the $ are in charge still or someone just as wasteful. so wasteful we need gambling to raise $. Md. is all-in hope we don't get sent up the river. oh wait that guy from Laurel won the world series of poker he'll balance our budget.

Lol, well I'm very much NOT embarrassed that people like you make up the minority in this great state. Try Mississippi, I hear it's still 1950 there.

I wouldn't live in a place I was too embarrassed to tell people that i live there.

Oh my goodness, it is after 2pm on the day after the elections and Maryland is still a state and the world has not come crashing down around me. God Bless Maryland, first state to acknowledge that same-sex marriage does not take away from man-woman marriage, and the Dream Act has not bankrupt the coffers (though I know many of you out there still think it will; let me just the numbers being thrown out are as far afield as George Will's projections for the presidential election). Didn't bet on the gambling thing to go through, but it is a minor issue that will be a big issue for many down the road, which is a truly Republican thing to do, kick the can down the road and let the 47% worry about it later. See, Maryland can be bipartisan!

And aside from all the great things God's will has bestowed on Maryland, God had the wherewithall to assist Akin in Missouri and Mourdock in Indianna in getting out of evil world of politics. That is what you call legitimate reaction in action! What a wonderful God we have.

Go Maryland! Fear the turtle. Love the Terps!

What am I going to do with the 40,000 rounds of ammo and the 15,000 frozen dinners I have stored in the basement?

Save that Ammo and dinners for when the Skins go to the Super Bowl, it would make for an awesome tailgating party! Course, I am a realist and know those bullets probably have an expiration date, but it was still a good idea.

Steve, so you ammo doesn't go to waste, I'll sell you the 200 machine guns, 1000 handguns and 500 shotguns I have. What size are the rounds?

PS I also have 100 microwaves you can buy. Interested the the 10000 cases of water?

7.62X5. I also have 3,000 feet of Comm wire, a copy of "The Constitution For Dummies" and a "Defending Your Polygonal Battle Space" DVD..

I have a box of Godiva chocolate, some 20-yr old Laproaig, and Sunday's NY Times crossword puzzle, I am all set.

Great, the 7.62 will fit right into the AR15s.

I'm not ashamed of living here. I don't agree with much of this states liberal tilt, but when the games been rigged through gerrymandering and there's a liberal majority, what do you expect. When my neighbors and friends or the neighborhoods go downhill maybe i'll move, until then whatchagonna do?

Me too and all my 261 MD family members.

You definitely should go on welfare, maybe then you'd actually have some grasp of reality.

Unemployment is good because then the government might give you a few bucks? Yeah, that's really a sweet deal! Hey, news flash, homeless people don't have the burden of paying a mortgage! That's so smart of them! They're sooooooooo lucky.

What a moron.

Not only your vote but for the Dumbos that signed the petitions their names and adresses.

Just like the great flying spaghetti monster intended. (Praise be unto he)

I had the same thought. Add to all those welcome maryland signs as you enter our state. Governor O'Malley welcomes you to the Home of Gay, Illegal, Gamblers!

You lost the vote.

You won the vote. Here's your trophy!

"just get married for financial reasons"

something countless mixed gender housemates who are friends do now. wait, what?

now same sex gender housemates can do it too.

better yet.. who needs a housemate just grab a friend you trust and broker a partnership, get same-sex married for the tax write off and benefits you don't have to live together, we are just numbers in the system now. Being single is so lame now. you are missing out single people.

Straw man.

I'm with you on this one Tom. People just vote "yes" and don't know what the question means.

I knew exactly what it meant, one less seat for the Republicans.

i'll admit it.. that was funny. Md. GOP got played!

You wanted a vote, you got it, you lost it, give it up.

Please tell the other states (California, North Carolina, etc.) that have failed getting same-sex marriage when it was voted on to give it up too please.

Straw man argument.

My employer offers same sex benefits with just an employee signing a form stating that they are in a relationship. Guess how many people put their same sex friend on as the "partner" so they can have health, dental and life insurance benefits. NOW, in Maryland they will require a marriage license for these same sex benefits. Welcome to the real world.

so i guess you voted against question 6 so you could keep things on the down low.. shucks.. busted.. where there is a will there is way.. go ahead and buck the system.. if you ain't cheating you ain't trying.

does your employer offer mixed gender benefits too?

I hate the word "marriage" being applied to two men or two women so suck it up de.nielson. I thought it wasn't about semantics?

Yeah we need to amend the new civil marriage law to read "same-gender". Same-sex sounds too provocative. Sex has been the same for years. People have been having the same sex for years. There are different positions on this matter but its still the same sex in the end. We should get that question on the 2014, people will vote yes for it cuz no one will know about it unless the gay lobby goes crazy and whines about that too.

Found the stats I was referencing:

Maryland voters approved same-sex marriage by a margin of 52 percent to 48 percent — the exact same margin by which it passed the House and Senate. Maryland voters approved the congressional district map, 63 percent to 37 percent. The vote in the legislature: 68 percent to 32 percent. On the Dream Act, the voters were actually a bit to the left of the legislature. That measure passed easily at the ballot box, 58 percent to 42 percent. In the legislature, it was 55 percent to 45 percent.
(from The Sun)

Guess what Republicans? (and I hate just labeling all Republicans as Anti-4,5,6ers) You tried the referendum arguing... turns out it was just more crow to eat. Complain and bitch to get it on a ballot and then lose... at that point the credibility of the "movement" is shot to hell.

I don't think we'll be seeing as many referendums any more.

Janet:

I challenge you to read the Dream Act(http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/bills/sb/sb0167e.pdf). When you've read it -- then get back with an answer that is informed. I had to whistle through my teeth when I read how many HOOPS (yes hoops) a child of an illegal immigrant has to jump to even get into a community college -- let alone a 4-year college. Who monitors whether an "illegal" student qualifies under the Dream Act? The governing board for each university/college. If you reasonably believe that your child was denied entry into a 4-year college BECAUSE a spot was "taken" by an "illegal" resident then you have the option to file a lawsuit against the school for violating the law!!! You have the right to do that -- heck you can even get some of your closeted bigot friends with the same views as you together and ya'll can file a class action lawsuit against the university! Geez! Maybe the Dream Act should have been for ignorant LEGAL residents of MD -- forced education pass 9th grade.

And here is the $20 million question: Would you rather a portion of your taxes go to education for EVERYONE or to helping the poor -- who will remain poor and ignorant without the hint of one day becoming like you or me -- a tax payer.

as if the new law was gonna change anything.. now admissions boards don't have to check cuz its understood, so this law is just affirming illegal behavior that is now legal.

volunteer mom, the Dream Act has nothing to do with same sex marriage. The Dream Act is about higher education. I guess you're glad that you didn't use your real name, huh?

I voted against Gun control because I shouldn't have to pay for a dog license.

You're right, volunteer mom. We are giving people too many rights. Gosh, this all started with womens rights and the civil rights movement. We should have just not let those happen at all and it definitely wouldn't have opened this can of worms. Who knows what kind of evil this will bring out in society???

Do you have any idea how much of a horrible person you come off as by saying crap like your above statement? This country prides itself on equal rights for it's citizens... that's the very core of being American. Equal rights does not mean equal-when-it-doesn't-disagree-with-my-outdated-religious-views. It means equal, period. Your arguments for a brother and mother having the same rights as a married couple are a reach, they aren't married and they aren't allowed to get married (first cousins is cool in almost all of the country already though, including MD, just fyi). Roommates can already get married, so that invalidates that argument, and since marriage is considered between two people that leaves out your threesome argument.

Regardless of whatever asinine arguments you people come up with, it doesn't change the fact that you guys lost. You're part of the minority here. And quite honestly I have to wonder if you looked your "bunch of friends/family that are gay" in the face and told them you voted against them having equal rights. Sounds like BS to me, I can't think of a single decent human being that would do that to their friends or family that they "love".

$100 says she voted for Romney and Andy Harris too......

volunteer mom - that is what is known as a straw man argument. If threesomes or mom/son can get a law passed, more power to them. No one is proposing that, stop being silly.

a higher education is only as good as what you put in and with no-child left behind people entering college are barely prepared to handle college and the reality of hard work sets in and mom and dads money goes poo poo away.

apples and oranges.

Actually Tom it is not an apples and oranges case. When you look at the history of Christian conservatives and what they have been against is actually a reliable trend of their thinking.

Straw Man

You don't even know what that means. ROFLMAO.

Janet, I know the vote is over and, thankfully, it appears your apparent vote against didn't come anywhere near close to mattering, but it still would be nice if you'd bother educating yourself on the law. These children that are now allowed in-state tuition rates (because, you know, they live in-state and their parents or they pay taxes, and they're in the process of obtaining citizenship) compete with the out-of-state applicant pool for those limited slots. Your child is still given preference and an easy path into state schools.

I have educated myself about the law, colleges and our state government. That is why I know what will happen in the future. You must be kidding when you say that my child will be given an easy path and preferences. It is tough to get into MD schools...legal or illegal.

Janet, since you now know what will happen in the future. I am thinking about buying some stocks, can you help me out there. Go to school for your education, home schooling has its limitations.

if you are not priveleged with a full ride scholarship or partial ride or gov't handout for college or just can't make ends meet. Just go to community college for 2 years.. get all your cores stuff done, then maybe you can get into a university and finish your degree.. getting a college degree these days only means you can learn.. and based on recent college graduates sometimes thats not even true.

Janet:

How can I hide behind a keyboard? I'm the one using my full name -- are you even "Janet"? And yes, I am proud of myself. If I had been born in the era where thoughts like yours could dictate my life -- I'd be a screwed black female. As it is, I was born much later than Jim Crow and have been allowed to go to school (YEAH!) -- which resulted in two degrees -- B.A. and J.D. And my sister (who also happens to be black) has a B.S., M.D. and M.P.A. Thank goodness for people who KNEW it would better for society to have an educated "slave" class as opposed to keeping people under the majority's thumb. And for the record -- both my sister and I are still paying for our education even though we've been done for years. Unfortunately, those of us who wish for better lives through education right after high school are still paying for those HIGH tuition fees.

With that said, it has been a pleasure to read some of these well thought out responses. I wish the Patch would have had something like this before the election so we could all (except for those with no idea of what the heck is going on...cough..cough...Ms. Soper) point out the pros and cons to each issue. Kudos to FIFA, Milt, BA, Jag and Janet for keeping us all thinking to defend our points. Most of us hang out with people who think like us...so getting other ideas of what's right/wrong is a lovely thing. But...the end is what it is: the Dream Act passed; we can all gamble legally; gays can marry; etc.

I am sure the attorneys were hoping this would pass. More business from LGBT divorces, child custody & support, etc.

I'm wondering how many same-gender people are wishing they could have divorced and raked over the coals their last ex partners of the past, or maybe marry their current partner (that they really don't want to be with) in Md. so they can divorce them and screw them over.

I think legal zoom needs some quickie same-gender partner licenses with pre-nups, and quickie divorces for all those single people that just want to get the tax write off married people get. these have to be in the works and ready to go come 2013. If you are single you are missing out on evading taxes like the rest of us married folk.. you should feel discriminated against.

Thanks Ms. Rodbell!

race to the top, no child left behind - sounds like the progressive lingo game to me. Just teach em reading, writing (not texting, maybe some cursive please), and rithmetic (do you know your times tables yet!). why is that so hard or why does it have to be fixed, it the same stuff k-12. If it ain't broke why fix it.

helping my kids do their homework, i may as well just homeschool them.

One way ticket we hope?

You're kidding, right? (I'm thinking about that tweet that's gone viral where the teenage girl threatened to move because she thought the President wasn't a Christian.) Seriously, though, IF they let you stay -- they have strict immigration laws Down Under -- you will at least get free health care and a bunch of other government benefits. And the prime minister is a woman. An atheist, by the way. It's a nice place, though.

Insulting people who voted for Obama and calling them all free-loaders is why Romney lost. You aren't going to convince them to change their vote by lumping them all together as one monolithic block of good-for-nothings...

How many freeloaders are popushers like Frank in hillbilly elkridge where men are men and little boys are afraid??

It doesn't matter. All your math and numbers and fancy signs after the numbers (% WTF is that?) mean nothing. Obama is a BLACK guy in a WHITE house. In Australia, there's not a BLACK guy running it. Therefore it's BETTER.

Stop trying to be smart its making you look dum and loose.

homosexualSteve's favorite site endorsed and now congratulates Obammmy.

http://www.peoplesworld.org/we-won-the-american-people-speak-and-act-with-strength-and-determination/

Now you can marry your young boy lover.

First time cockroach poster from Catonsville.

fifa has rug burns on his knees and his lover boy has them on his elbows!

steve the boy lover and tower of power king in his basement playong with himself gets off on kiddie porn.

What a stupid idiot bigot steve is.

You should change your name to stupid bugger.

Agreed, NathalyU. The immigration things are totally weighed against people and should take into account when people are brought to this country. I.E. if they are under 10 when they are brought here with their parents, they are automatically given U.S. citizen status under the law whether they were documented or not.

It is not fair to expect people to return to their home nations and wait 10 YEARS to come back to the United States, period and done with.

The 20 year + waits on legal immigration to the United States, which are making people turn to illegal immigration also need to go.

Add to my previous post, if they are over 10 and under 18 when they come? Have them take the same test that other legal immigrants take to get citizenship.

" if they are under 10 when they are brought here with their parents, they are automatically given U.S. citizen status under the law whether they were documented or not."

You apparently have not thought that idiotic statement out well. Would a policy as stupid as that bring in more and more illegal aliens? Of course it would. Then what? Send their parents back if and when caught?

You certianly have not thought for more than a few seconds what wrath such an idiotic policy would bring down on legal immigrants and US citizens. Perhaps you should think before you type. Like when you said "There is no subsidy except for the one that is given to ALL in-state people if the DREAM Act passes."
or when you said "I hate to tell you this, but a good 50% of Americans are Atheist or Agnostic "

And more and more that were just factually incorrect.

Re-read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and then see if he loved everyone.

Don't know Frank, I do know you seem to be about 12.

LOL, love it. Thanks for brightening our day, Charles. You crazy ol' coot.

So let me get this straight. You're saying that if gays can't marry then they'll magically become hetero, marry and have kids? Wow...just....wow.

Yeah, those non-procreating gays are going to lead to our extinction because under-population is such a huge problem right now, right? Also if the human body decides what is and isn't a marriage ( a ridiculous statement to start with ) then the physical attraction they feel towards their partner just further legitimizes it.