Posted on 09/07/2005 6:06:36 PM PDT by SmithL
SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Wednesday that he will veto a bill seeking to allow gay marriages in California.
Schwarzenegger said the legislation, given final approval Tuesday by lawmakers, would conflict with the intent of voters when they approved Proposition 22. That measure was put on the ballot in 2000 to prevent California from recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere.
"We cannot have a system where the people vote and the Legislature derails that vote," the governor's press secretary, Margita Thompson, said in a statement. "Out of respect for the will of the people, the governor will veto (the bill)."
Despite his promise to veto the bill, Schwarzenegger "believes gay couples are entitled to full protection under the law and should not be discriminated against based upon their relationship."
"He is proud that California provides the most rigorous protections in the nation for domestic partners," the statement said.
The Republican governor had indicated in previous statements that he would veto the bill, saying the debate over same-sex marriage should be decided by voters or the courts.
A state appeals court is weighing an appeal of a San Francisco judge's ruling striking down state laws barring gay marriages. Meanwhile, opponents of same-sex marriages are planning measures on the ballot next year that would place a ban on gay marriages in the state constitution.
The announcement dampened a celebratory mood among the bill's supporters, who only the night before cheered, hugged and kissed as the state Assembly narrowly sent the bill to the governor's desk.
Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, had called bans on gay marriage "the last frontier of bigotry and discrimination."
The bill passed the Legislature through the persistence of its sponsors, Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. His original bill had failed in the Assembly by four votes in June, but he then amended it to another bill in the Senate, which voted to approve it last week.
It was that amended bill the Assembly passed by a bare majority on Tuesday. Four Democrats who did not vote on the bill in June provided the winning margin this week.
The vote made the California Legislature the first legislative body in the country to approve of same-sex marriage. Gay marriage licenses in Massachusetts and civil unions in Vermont were granted through court rulings.
There, it's now correct.
The legislature took it upon themselves to pat the people on the head and substitute their own definition of marriage.
The governor acted to protect the right of the people to govern themselves.
If the people wanted to mandate that all hot fudge sundaes be referred to as "fishead specials" and the legislature overrode it, a veto would be a ppropriate. Democracy is democracy.
Good for him.
Well that's your first mistake. I wouldn't send my kids to a public school anywhere.
Migden & Lenno up first
Well he certainly has ba ... er ... guts.
Dang straight!
Thank you Governor. Nice to know some folks in the state capital still respect marriage and the citizens vote.
LMAO !
Valid point about creating another method to achieve their goals. Perhaps this measure by the Governor will encourage more Californians to speak up when challenged/provoked by liberals.
Ayn Rand had a great "open letter" to Boris Spassky that was about changing rules of the game in the middle. The liberals want to change definitions and meanings and rules- like changing the meaning of the word "marriage". Or, forcing people to "accept" what they don't want to.
I fully expect to see his poll numbers improve. Actually, look for all of his special election propositions to improve, too.
I agree with your post 124. That is important.
I knew there was something I liked about that guy. Go Arnold!!!
Yeah, the liberals are a shifty bunch.
Yahoo........calling the Governor's office tomorrow. That is GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, will this slow down the NAMBLA types who are just itching to "Marry" so they can "Adopt" little boys, or is that already legal with the domestic partners laws?
Thank you. You and I agree on 99% of this, I'm sure. The demographic data from "civil union" countries is horrifying.
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