Posted on 12/23/2003 12:48:09 AM PST by calcowgirl
Move to reverse gay couples' rights law fails
Ballot measure doesn't get enough signatures.
SACRAMENTO A sparse crowd supporting expanded rights for gay and lesbian domestic partners celebrated the demise Monday of a proposed 2004 ballot measure to overturn landmark new protections passed this year.
About 25 people rallied on the Capitol steps to claim victory over opponents who failed to gather more than 373,000 signatures needed by Dec. 21 for a public vote next year.
“Our whole lives have been a fight,’ said Carole Migden, a California Board of Equalization member, and former state Assemblywoman who pioneered earlier state laws to expand protections for gays and lesbians. She called threats to overturn the state’s newest law, set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2005, a “marginal hysterical response by a hateful few.’
But opponents who vow to strike down the law in court called the event a “public relations game that’s out of touch with the gut- level beliefs of average Californians.’
The law, signed by former Gov. Gray Davis on Sept. 20, widely expands civil rights of California’s gay and lesbian couples, giving them many of the rights of married couples to buy, share and transfer property and use health insurance and pension benefits. It also allows partners to be covered under one another’s car insurance plans, take extended leaves from work to care for one another and make funeral arrangements for their partners.
Gay rights opponent Randy Thomasson responded to Monday’s rally, citing Thursday’s ruling in Sacramento County Superior Court allowing a legal challenge to the law to continue. Thomasson’s Campaign for California Families argues the law violates Proposition 22, the 2000 ballot measure where 61.4 percent of California voters defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
But the judge also pleased gay rights supporters by refusing to stop the state from notifying registered same-sex couples about the new law. As of Monday, 24,366 couples are registered as domestic partners, said a spokeswoman with the secretary of state’s office.
Yeah, we're going to have to pay more attention and promote better.
We need to check the Secretary of State initiatives status page to see what's coming down the road.
The "Referendum Petition to Overturn Domestic Partner Law" had from October 2 to December 21 to get 373,816 sigs.
There's another initiative in circulation, SA03RF0032, "Sexual Orientation, Status, Conduct or Relationships. Initiative Constitutional Amendment" (10/01/03 - 03/01/04) to get a required 598,105 for the constitutional amendment. More sigs, more time allotted.
There are other initiatives, pro and con, we need to keep an eye on. This is an activist site and we need to keep with our activist roots instead of being just a chat/spat site.
There's one iniative in circulation that would require parental notification for a minor's termination of her baby.
There are plenty other initiatives that should be of interest to people on this site.
I for one think it is a great idea.
Well, the site is still up and they have contact information. They're also set up for the Driver License Referendum (which was somewhat averted for the time being until another version SB60 comes down to Governor Arnold's desk) and a Spending Cap Initiative.
This is a partial list of their recent clients:
Rescue California- Recall Gray Davis Consumer Alliance for a Strong Economy Cristi Cristich for Assembly Mimi Walters for Assembly National Republican Congressional Committee Victory 2000/Bush for President California Republican Party Ackerman for Attorney General Congresswoman Mary Bono Congressman Wally Herger Congressman George Radanovich Congressman Dana Rohrabacher Congressman Ed Royce Darrell Issa for Congress Beth Rogers for Congress John Kline for Congress (MN) Dave McIntosh for Congress (Indiana 2nd District) Bill Leonard for Board of Equalization Senate Republican Leader Jim Brulte Assembly Republican Leader Scott Baugh Assemblywoman Pat Bates Assemblyman John Campbell Sharon Runner for Assembly Steve Samuelian for Assembly Todd Spitzer for Assembly Committee to Recall Doris Allen Jim Silva for Supervisor Orange County Ted Gaines for Supervisor Placer County Trena Burger for Superior Court Sacramento County Dan McNerney for Superior Court Orange County Jan Scully for District Attorney Sacramento County Judge Tony Rackauckas for District Attorney Orange County Elizabeth Egan for District Attorney Fresno County Non-Partisan Candidate Evaluation Council Voter Guide Association for California Tort Reform (CJAC) Personal Insurance Federation of California Republican Party of Hawaii Preston Trucking Company International Jet Sports Boating Association NO on Proposition 52 (Same Day Voter Registration) YES on Proposition 115 (Victims Rights Initiative) NO on Proposition 130 (timber restrictions) YES on Proposition 138 (managed forestry) Californians for New Forestryhttp://www.gbwasacramento.com/clients.html
Includes the Committee to Recall RINO-turncoat Doris Allen
That's why I posted the article. It got very little airtime ANYWHERE.
Thanks for the link CCC... I will not be uninformed again.
So, I called them (GBWA). They tell me that Ted Costa's group over at People's Advocate provided that analysis and they just posted it. I found them willing to cooperate and help vet a proposed set of tools as to whether it has the appropriate bells and whistles. Answer: yes.
So I guess the next step is Mr. Costa.
I was rather disappointed when I saw quick mention of this in my local rag newspaper and found your thread.
With the 2004 elections coming up fast, it's imperative us activists do what we should do best, be active.
I posted this thread on the 2004 March candidates hoping to generate interest and action, to get people to start helping their candidates in March and eventually November. As you can see it hasn't generated much discussion thus far. I suppose Peterson, Jacko, and Kobe are more interesting topics (not to disparage anybody who has posted there as I may have made a few snippy comments there myself and I hope justice is done in those cases). But our elections have more direct impact on our lives.
And it is evident we can't wait for initiatives to mysteriously appear on ballots before becoming interested. We need to vet out the ones in circulation and start getting better exposure to worthy initiatives. The sooner the better.
Thanks for ANOTHER great link... the March 2004 Primary. Now bookmarked. I noticed that you included a link to previous Prop 57/58 discussions, so I decided to add some info (specifically, McClintock's speech to the floor on both measures). I also crosslinked back to your 2004 Primary thread.
Maybe after Christmas we can all be active on something more than eating, cooking and shopping! LOL.
Happy Holidays to you and yours.
... I sent Mr. Costa a note.
You do fine work... as usual! :-)
California initiatives in circulation as of February 3, 2004
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