The Maryland Catholic Conference will oppose a constitutional amendment protecting a woman’s right to choose. “We challenge all those who value the dignity and human rights of each Marylander to do the same,” declared the group’s executive director.

Governor Hogan trusts that voters would make the right decision if such an amendment is on the ballot in 2020, according to a spokesman for his campaign. Unstated was how the governor would cast his vote.

Time (and the voters) will tell if the Governor maintains his neutrality.

Nothing concentrates the mind like a bill hearing. Everyone who could be affected makes their views known.

That will surely be the case on an issue as important and controversial as abortion.

Legislation enacting the principles of Roe v. Wade was first introduced in 1990.

A filibuster tied up the Senate for days.

Several senators who supported that filibuster lost their seats in the election that fall.

The next year, Senate Bill 162 passed both houses and was signed into law by Governor Schaefer.

Nearly two dozen Republicans voted for the legislation.

One of them was a future governor, Bob Ehrlich.

There would be only a handful of votes for this constitutional amendment among the Republicans now serving in the General Assembly.

That will still be the case next year.

Right to life is a litmus test for Republican legislators. (As it is for Supreme Court nominees)