Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

O'Malley Signs Same-Sex Marriage Bill - making Maryland the eighth state to approve same-sex marriage. However, the bill does not go into effect until January 2013 and opponents are mounting a petition drive to force the issue to a statewide referendum to be placed on the ballot in the general election this year. So, the possibility exists the law will never go into effect. The Baltimore Sun has more here.

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GOP Meltdown? - Sure looks like it as a federal judge emails racist jokes concerning the president, a conservative talk show hosts calls a Georgetown University law student and woman's health advocate a "slut" and finally columnist George Will opines Republicans should focus on keeping the House and groom presidential candidates for the 2016 election.

CBS New has more on Limbaugh here.

Politico.com has more on George Will here.

and the federal judge apologizes to President Obama here.

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Senate Defeats Controversial "Conscience Amendment" - which would have allowed employers to opt out of health insurance coverage on moral grounds. The amendment failed by a vote of 51-48. CNN.com has more here.

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Who Will Replace Snowe in Maine? - Republican Representative Mike Michaud has announced he will not run for the senate seat vacated by the retirement of Sen. Olympia Snowe (R). Speculation is Democratic Representative Chellie Pingree will run, helping the chances of Democrats maintaining their majority in the Senate. RollCall.com has more here.

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Red Cross Arrives in City of Homs - bringing aid to the residents of the Syrian city under siege by government forces for the past month. The rebel Free Syrian Army is withdrawing from the city to prevent an all out assault. The BBC News has more here.

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Obama to meet With Netanyahu on Monday - the meeting with Israel's prime Minister at the White House is expected to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to the security of Israel. Discussion of possible air strikes on Iran to prevent the development of their nuclear weapons program is sure to be discussed. TheHill.com has more here.

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Iran Parliamentary Elections Today - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged a high turnout to show the West that sanctions and war threats are a "bluff". The Washington Post has more here.

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