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NEWS ARCHIVES
March 24, 2010 - The Personhood Bill was "defeated" in committee, and will not progress to the full House of Delegates for a vote. However, it is encouraging news that the Bill was actually voted on by the committee, only 3 Business Days after the Hearing, and it was ONLY DEFEATED BY 6 VOTES!!! The final tally was 14 to 8, with 1 member excused from the vote. This is quite a move forward from last year, when the Bill was never even brought up for a vote by the Committee Chair - Delegate Hammen. Click Here to view a list of how each committee member voted.
This is so encouraging for the Pro-Life community here in Maryland - where we are regularly ranked in the top 5 most Pro-Abortion states in the country. We are a long way from getting this on the ballot, but this is a huge step forward. We will be bringing together Pro-Life organizations from all across Maryland this summer to discuss the strategy for next year, and how we can all work together to push for equal rights for all human beings , at all stages of development.
March 22, 2010 - Even though he wasn't in the room for for ANY of the testimonies, the Chairman of the committee, Delegate Peter A. Hammen , a Democrat from District 46 in Baltimore City, now has the power to decide if the bill will pass committee and make it to the full House of Delegates for a vote. If it does make it to the full House of Delegates, it would then be put on the Ballot for the next elections in Maryland , so that “We the People” get to make the final decision about this issue.
Chair: Peter A. Hammen
The hearing took place on Friday, March 19th, at the Health and Government Operations Committee Hearing Room, Room 241 in the House Office Building, 6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401. The video of the full hearing is now available online!
Maryland Personhood Amendment Hearing - March 19, 2010
March 4, 2010 - Hearing has been set for Friday, March 19th, at the Health and Government Operations Committee. February 17, 2010 - MD Personhood Bill introduced in MD House of Delegates...led by Delegate Don Dwyer and 19 other courageous Delegates. May 31, 2009 - Official Statement on Shooting of Abortionist George Tiller: "Those involved in the Maryland Personhood Initiative stand for peaceful and prayerful solutions to the crisis of abortion, and we are shocked and dismayed by the shooting death of Kansas abortion provider George Tiller. Such violence against a fellow human being is never justified, and we condemn this senseless act. We encourage people of faith to join in prayer for all those affected by this unconscionable action." - Michael Martelli, Coordinator
March 13, 2009 - The Health and Government Operations Committee held a public hearing on the proposed MD Personhood Amendment on March 13th. Delegate Dwyer, who sponsored and submitted House Bill 925, opened the Hearing with a heartfelt and moving presentation. He was followed by expert testimony from Johanna Dasteel of American Life League, and representatives from the Association of Physicians for Life and the NAAPC – National Association for the Advancement of Preborn Children – which is based in Hagerstown, MD.
They were followed by about 25 personal testimonies by people from around Maryland, and even someone from Virginia Beach, VA. There were only 4 representatives from Pro-abortion organizations, including NARAL of MD, who gave their testimonies at the very end.
The entire proceeding was video taped, so check back with us early next week view the entire Hearing online. The Chairman of the Committee, Delegate Peter A. Hammen, a Democrat from District 46 in Baltimore City, now has the power to decide if the bill will pass committee and make it to the full House of Delegates for a vote to be put on the Ballot in Maryland, so "We the People" get to make the final decision about this issue – even though he wasn’t in the room for about 70% of the Pro-Amendment testimonies.
Regardless of the outcome, this battle is far from over and there will be plenty of opportunity to get involved. If you haven't already, please sign up for the newsletter and stay on top of the latest developments about the MD Personhood movement, and get involved to help us turn the tide in our state. You can also visit http://www.PersonhoodUSA.com for information about Personhood Initiatives in other states around the country.
You can still click here for the contact information of the Delegates on the Committee that heard the testimonies on Friday! Please, if you do nothing else, contact these Delegates and tell them that you support this Bill - HB925!
March 6, 2009 - The public hearing for the MD Personhood Amendment Bill has been scheduled for March 13th at 1pm!! Click here to see the Press Release from Delegate Dwyer with more details! February 27, 2009 - See a heartfelt email to Governor O'Malley...
Dear Governor O'Malley, Click here to read the entire email February 11, 2009 - Delegate Dwyer formally submitted the bill on Wednesday, February 11, 2009, and it has been assigned a bill number - HB925. You can read its content on-line at http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0925.htm
February 6, 2009 - The following is the latest Press Release from Delegate Dwyer's Office.
MARYLAND LAWMAKER TO INTRODUCE PERSONHOOD AMENDMENT The Personhood movement is catching fire as Maryland joins 15 other states across the country working toward the legal recognition of all human beings as "persons" under the law.
Delegate Don H. Dwyer, Jr. will introduce a Personhood Amendment this coming week in the Maryland General Assembly. The amendment recognizes all human beings from their biological beginning as "persons."
"The personhood movement marks a monumental shift in pro-life legislation of the past 20 years," said Judie Brown, president of American Life League. "It strikes at the root of the culture of death and discusses life issues in their true context – as the foundation of all civil rights issues."
"Here we are some 36 years after Roe v. Wade, (the Supreme Court decision that decriminalized abortion), and we now have 3-D and 4-D color sonograms that give us a real-time look into the womb," Del. Dwyer said. "There is no doubt today that there is a human being in the womb and that human being should be considered a person."
Colorado became the first state last fall to allow its citizens to vote on a Personhood Amendment ballot initiative.
"I believe that as we approach nearly 40 years since the court ruled on Roe v. Wade, we must once again open the public debate to review when each human being's life begins," Del. Dwyer said.
"There is no doubt today the human being in the womb is a person. In the end, my goal would be that not only Maryland, but every state, would grant the protections of the state and U.S. Constitutions to all persons, born and preborn."
Contact: Delegate Don Dwyer 410-841-3298 Office
January 28, 2009 - Click here to see the flyers we distributed at the National March for Life in Washington, DC.
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See Delegate Dwyer's Interview
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