By Matthew Mosk and Hamil R. Harris
Wednesday, January 25, 2006; B04

The Maryland House of Delegates approved the use of speed cameras on residential roads in Montgomery County yesterday, overriding the governor's veto and bringing the measure one vote away from becoming law.

"Our constituents say that Montgomery County roads are in dire need of speed control," Del. William Bronrott said in a speech on the House floor, before members voted 89 to 45 to approve the bill. "Our police officers cannot keep pace."

House leaders pushed through the measure despite objections from the governor, who vetoed the bill last year because he said it was an inappropriate intrusion into peoples' lives. The state Senate is expected to vote on the override later this week.

Under the bill, cameras would be posted in school zones and on streets in small neighborhoods to snap photos of drivers going 10 miles an hour or more over the posted limit. Drivers would be provided two photos offering proof of the violation and would be fined $40.

The money collected from the fines will be dedicated to pedestrian safety efforts in Montgomery.

Opponents of the bill said they feared the cameras would become commonplace in Maryland and would rob citizens of their right to confront their accuser.

"I think they're inherently unfair," said Del. Tony McConkey (R-Anne Arundel) "This bill allows for trial by camera."

The origin of the proposal, members said, was a task force formed to deal with Montgomery's high number of pedestrian fatalities. Bronrott, who chaired the commission, said the use of speed cameras was the panel's No. 1 recommendation.

The corridors of the Maryland State House became a crossroads of faith and politics yesterday as a coalition of religious leaders urged lawmakers to block a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in the state.

"To put up the civil rights of gay and lesbian couples to a popular vote would set a bad precedent in the state of Maryland," said the Rev. Anthony McCarthy of Unity Fellowship in Baltimore, who was among nearly 50 religious leaders who rallied in Annapolis.

Although many ministers of various faiths have voiced concern about same-sex marriage, the members of Equality Maryland came armed with scriptures, talking points and blessings for such unions from 240 church leaders who represented 11 denominations.

"This is a question of justice," said Rabbi Elissa Sachs-Kohen of the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. "It is really not a religious question at this level. Our United States government doesn't have a right to deny anyone the protection of law."

House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) told reporters that the House will hold hearings on the issue Tuesday, after a judge's ruling last week that the state law banning same-sex marriage would not withstand a constitutional challenge. The order is stayed pending a review by the state's appeals courts.

Many lawmakers and ministers want to amend the state's constitution to ensure that marriage remains the union of a man and a woman. "We strongly disagree with the judge's ruling," said the Rev. Willie Hunt, president of the Equity Coalition and the Ministers Alliance of Charles County. "What the Bible says is the absolute truth. . . . The judges can say whatever they want to, but the bottom line is: Who is going to make God change his mind?"

A Maryland appeals court has stayed an order to require health care for some children who are immigrants, the Associated Press reported.

The stay from the Court of Special Appeals, issued yesterday, puts on hold a decision this month by Montgomery County Circuit Court that several families who were removed last year from Medicaid coverage be reinstated, the AP said. That court decision came after Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R) in July suspended Medicaid coverage for about 3,000 children of legal immigrants, a move to save about $7 million in the state budget. A group of legal immigrants sued over the change.

The lower court ruling, by Judge Durke G. Thompson, would have reinstated the benefits until the question is decided at a full trial, the AP reported.