Health & Fitness
Kach Aide: Delegate's Vote "Is a Strong Vote"
Wade Kach's support of the same-sex marriage bill is not contingent on an amendment to delay when the law takes effect. Or is it?
Del. Wade Kach's vote on same-sex marriage legislation is not contingent on the adoption of an amendment delaying when the law takes affect, according to a spokesman for Kach.
Kach told the Associated Press Thursday that he would vote in favor of the bill if the House adopts an amendment that would have the law take effect in 2013. The move would allow opponents of the bill time to collect enough signatures to attempt to force it to the 2012 ballot as a referendum question.
Should the amendment fail he said he would "probably" not vote for the bill, according to the Associate Press report.
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The amendment is the same as one offered in committee Tuesday night. The committee killed the amendment. Kach ultimately voted against the bill in committee.
Joe Gutberlet, a former aide to Kach, told Patch that the Associated Press report was untrue.
Find out what's happening in Hunt Valley-Cockeysvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"That's not an issue at all," said Gutberlet, who said he was assisting Kach on the issue and was authorized to speak on behalf of the delegate.
"He's voting for the gay marriage bill," said Gutberlet. "He's made up his mind and there's no going back. It's a strong vote."
Kach declined to meet with a reporter from Patch after asking the reporter to come back for an afternoon appointment.
Gutberlet, in turning away the reporter, said Kach had "been told not to do any more interviews, to let this all die down."
The aide declined to say who had ordered Kach not to speak publicly on his position.
Gutberlet added that rumors that Kach accepted a job from Gov. Martin O'Malley as payment for his vote were also untrue.
"The last governor to offer Wade a job was Bob Ehrlich in 2002," said Gutberlet. "He enjoys being a delegate."
Some Republicans cast doubt today on Kach's political future if he votes in favor of the bill.
Kach is the second Baltimore County delegate to announce today that he would vote in favor of the same-sex marriage bill.
Del. John Olszewski Jr., a Dundalk Democrat, told Patch today he also will vote for the bill.
The House is expected to debate the bill tonight at a session that begins at 5:30 p.m.
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