Md. House to Debate Marriage Bill

The Maryland house of delegates is expected to begin debate Wednesday morning on the marriage equality bill, marking the final phase in the bill's difficult journey in the chamber.

According to The Washington Post, debate was postponed from Tuesday morning, when the bill arrived on the house floor.

"House rules allow members to lay over bills for a day under certain circumstances," reports the Post. "House leaders said they expect debate over proposed amendments to begin Wednesday, with a vote on the bill expected by Friday."

Debate in the house follows a close call last week in the judiciary committee, where key Democratic sponsors wavered in their support for the bill and almost derailed its path.

Days before the vote, Sam Arora (pictured), the delegate who cosponsored Maryland's marriage equality bill and campaigned on a marriage equality platform, changed his tune and indicated he would be voting against the bill.

He wound up coming around in the end, but only because he decided Maryland voters should "ultimately decide this issue at the polls."

The panel advanced the bill by a vote of 12 to 10, but only after

Now, the measure needs 71 votes to pass in the house and proponents believe they are close to securing that number. Gov. Martin O'Malley has promised to sign the bill into law.

Discussion in the house is anticipated to be more contentious than in the senate, which approved the bill two weeks ago in an unexpectedly brief debate.

Listen to the Maryland house debate the marriage equality bill here at 10 a.m.