Hot Date for the Maryland Legislature

Maryland's General Assembly was nominated this morning for a rare accolade: "Best Legislature in the Country."

The praise came from Rachel Maddow, a liberal commentator on the Air America radio network, who also declared Maryland's legislature the one she'd "most like to date."

Maddow singled out lawmakers for defying Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich with a bill forcing Wal-Mart to pay more for its employees' benefits. And then defying him again with a measure raising the minimum wage.

Both bills had been approved by the Democrat-controlled General Assembly last spring and vetoed by Ehrlich. Democrats overrode the vetoes last month.

Maddow's saved her greatest praise, though, for Thursday's vote in the House Judiciary Committee, rejecting a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.

"Maryland State Legislature, if you will go on a date with me, I will buy both dinner and a movie," she declared on her morning show.

No counter offers yet from Rush Limbaugh.