Posted on 12/04/2006 6:29:44 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Monday December 04, 2006
By SAMANTHA YOUNG and DON THOMPSON
Associated Press Writers
SACRAMENTO (AP) -- California's newly sworn Legislature on Monday picked up where the old one left off, introducing an emotional bill to legalize gay marriage and delving into a power struggle over Central Valley flooding.
While legislative leaders struck a bipartisan tone for the session that gets under way in January, rank and file members revived bills that have divided the Capitol.
Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, reintroduced legislation that would allow gay couples to marry in the state of California. And Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, introduced a bill that would let unmarried, heterosexual couples register as domestic partners.
Leno said he hoped the Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who vetoed a nearly identical gay marriage bill in 2005, would change his position on the new bill. Schwarzenegger has said it is up to voters or the courts, not lawmakers, to settle the contentious issue of gay marriage.
California law does not permit gay marriage, but gay couples who register as domestic partners are given most of the same rights as married couples.
A Superior Court in San Francisco ruled last year that having separate rules for gay and straight couples was unconstitutional. But an appeals court reversed that decision in October, saying it was up to the Legislature, not the courts, to decide whether to change the traditional definition of marriage.
Randy Thomasson, president of the conservative Campaign for Children and Families, urged Schwarzenegger to veto both bills.
``These bills abolish marriage. They destroy the institution of marriage,'' Thomasson said at a press conference outside the Capitol.
For their part, Assembly and Senate leaders sought to emphasize bipartisanship in the ceremonial festivities, despite their differing agendas.
Assembly lawmakers unanimously elected Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, to his third term as speaker, making him the longest serving speaker since Willie Brown. Brown, who was elected before term limits, served as speaker from 1981 to 1995. In the Senate, Don Perata, D-Oakland, was re-elected to a second term.
Both men said they hope to continue working with Schwarzenegger and legislative Republicans on issues including health care, education, alternative energy, and prison reform. Schwarzenegger won easy re-election last month after a campaign that highlighted his ability to cooperate with members of both parties.
``We can accomplish extraordinary things this year if we continue working together,'' Schwarzenegger said. ``Let us find the things we have in common rather than things we should fight over.''
In both chambers, legislators introduced bills addressing flood control, one of the most pressing and divisive issues in the Central Valley, after other measures foundered last year.
``We have much to do in the coming term,'' said Nunez. ``Too much to let any excessive partisanship or rigid ideology get in the way.''
Nunez invited Schwarzenegger to attend the swearing-in ceremonies. His appearance marked the first time in modern history a governor has welcomed new members to the Capitol.
Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders are promoting measures next year that would strip legislators' power to draw their own districts, an effort that has failed in the past partly because Republicans have resisted Democrats' efforts to extend term limits.
On Monday, Assembly Republican Leader Mike Villines, R-Clovis, introduced a constitutional amendment that would let a citizens' commission draw district lines.
Villines unseated Assembly GOP Leader George Plescia of La Jolla last month in a battle over legislative Republicans' relationship with their Republican governor. Senate GOP Leader Dick Ackerman of Fullerton narrowly survived a leadership challenge Monday from Sen. Jim Battin, R-Palm Desert. Battin criticized Ackerman for bypassing Republicans to reach agreements with Democrats and the governor.
Perata took the unusual step of presiding over his own swearing-in ceremony because Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante was absent due to his father's death.
Cruz Bustamante Jr., 73, died Friday in Fresno while his son was in Mexico attending the inauguration of President Felipe Calderon, said Steve Green, a spokesman for the lieutenant governor. The lieutenant governor doubles as Senate president.
BUMP
Homosexual promoters know that in 2010, even if a Democrat is elected, their party is over. As long as the Austrian is in office, the odds are good that he will approve many of their legislative shenanigans. When he's gone, it's back to reality.
Fitting.
Surely reminds me of the disdainful reference to "Preverts" in the classic movie "Doctor Strangelove!" Of course, since he's completely bent the CA Repellican Party platform totally out of shape, I guess no one should be the least bit surprised that he'd support gender bending as well, right?
It's gonna be a loooooooooooooooooong 48 insufferable months!!! It's enough to make a saint cuss and sometime I might even slip!!! It's just one "cock & bull" story, right after the other!!! Gratuitous capitulating to Democrat deviance in all it's disgusting manifestations!!!
Forty eight more months of this and it'll be Benjamin Dover for Governor in 2010 on the Limpwristed ticket!!! Phhhhhhhhhhhht!!! (barf!)
Veto it again Arnold. Do the right thing.
More research.
Schwarzenegger didn't veto AB 1400 and he likely won't veto Migden's bill.
How many more times can the legislature bring this up? Isn't there a limit?
At least this beats discussing "Which one of Santa's Reindeer are you?" Gag me!!!
Marriage between gays is already legal in California as long as one is a man and the other is a woman.
I notice this story ignores the simple reality that Arnold can't sign this bill since the legislature can't repeal initiatives under our state constitution.
introducing an emotional bill
Someone get with this Bill and tell him to calm down. There's no point in getting emotional.
We'll see how long it takes the socialist to rationalize his way into signing this. And "One Bill Gil's" driver licenses for illegal aliens bill.
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