"If you believe in homo insurance and gun bans, then you are a Republican!"
Posted on 09/14/2004 7:36:47 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the first major gay rights legislation to reach his desk yesterday when he approved a bill that would require insurance companies to offer coverage to registered domestic partners.
The governor's office announced his approval late yesterday without any fanfare or even a signing message explaining his decision.
AB 2208, sponsored by Assemblywoman Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego, would require companies that offer health, life, homeowners and auto insurance to offer policies that cover domestic partners in the same way they cover spouses.
Current law requires insurers to offer domestic partners coverage equivalent to a dependent, rather than a spouse.
Gay rights advocates say the bill is a technical fix needed to pave the way for California's domestic partnership law, which takes effect next year. The law gives same-sex registered domestic partners a variety of rights and responsibilities now available only to married couples.
Kehoe, an openly lesbian legislator running for the state Senate, said in a letter supporting her legislation that the law is needed because "registered partners are often denied insurance benefits and coverage, or are unfairly required to pay higher premiums."
This new law, she wrote, "would protect families, eliminate uncertainty and confusion in current law and prevent unnecessary litigation."
The bill, though passed by the Legislature, ran into strong opposition. Opponents, including the Campaign for California Families and the Capitol Resource Institute, said it would infringe on the morals or private businesses that object to domestic partnerships.
In addition, some critics argued that it would drive up the cost of health insurance for businesses.
The bill was one of several sponsored by Equality California, a gay rights advocacy group that last year backed the state's landmark domestic partners law.
The Republican governor has long been viewed as a moderate on social issues, supporting gay rights, abortion rights and some gun controls. Unlike President Bush, who he has endorsed, Schwarzenegger has not backed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
The governor yesterday also signed bills that:
Add the .50 caliber BMG rifle to the list of dangerous weapons and creates new felonies for the manufacture, sale, or importation without a permit of this firearm, except as specified. AB 50 was carried by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood.
Limit hotel room rate hikes to 10 percent after natural disasters – legislation prompted by alleged price gouging in Imperial County in the wake of last fall's wildfires in San Diego and other Southern California counties. The bill, SB 1363, was carried by Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego.
Impose new restrictions and higher fines for falsifying workers' compensation claims. SBX42 from Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, also makes it a crime for failing to pay workers' compensation claims by anyone who knew they should.
Reimburse counties from the state for all costs for mental health services. SB 1895 was authored by Sen. John Burton, D-San Francisco.
Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill aimed at clarifying laws that define horse racing terms. AB3083 was written by the Committee on Governmental Organization to update the law. Schwarzenegger said one of the definitions differed slightly from the Business and Professions code.
While he said the meaning might be the same, he didn't think it was worth the chance of creating confusion.
By the end of this month, the governor must act on hundreds of bills passed in the final days of the legislative session last month. Key bills pending would allow prescription drug purchases from Canada and allow illegal immigrants to apply for driver licenses.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
"If you believe in homo insurance and gun bans, then you are a Republican!"
The governor yesterday also signed bills that:Add the .50 caliber BMG rifle to the list of dangerous weapons and creates new felonies for the manufacture, sale, or importation without a permit of this firearm, except as specified. AB 50 was carried by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood.
This bill by far benefits more straight couples who are not legally married.
I am worried about everyday hooking up their friends, and labeling it as domestic partnership in order to get the coverage.
Gosh. Twenty posts and nobody's complained about AB50 being passed.
Let me be the first.
At least it will stop all those Jack-in-the-Box holdups by crooks with .50BMGs.
Arnold isn't even a RINO.
That's a good point. I wonder if there are provisions in place to prevent that?
You nailed it.
very good observation.
There is definitely something happening the last few years in the political realm. Lots of folks trying to move to the "center", whatever the heck that is..
This year the viciousness of the left has been unleashed insuring they will further decline in power.
No party can survive on venom and vitriol for long.
Sounds to me like they're trying to regulate interstate commerce. Hasn't SCOTUS had something to say about that?
Because he has an "R" after his name.
"Add the .50 caliber BMG rifle to the list of dangerous weapons and creates new felonies for the manufacture, sale, or importation without a permit of this firearm,"
I guess I'm dense. I just can't figure out why anyone would want to live in this bastion of liberalism.
Two words....Girlie Governor
Which is the same reason many Republicans mindlessly backed him.
It is the Barrett position that we choose not to support in anyway state or local governments who are against the US Constitution and the safety and security of this nation. If California were to ban the sale of the Barrett .50 cal rifle we will stop the sale and service of all Barrett products to all State Law Enforcement agencies of the state of California immediately and ask all small arms manufactures to consider similar action. Re-classify the .50 cal rifle and you align yourself and the State of California as being part of the very terrorists who are attempting to destroy this great nation of ours.
Ronnie G. Barrett
President
Barrett Firearms Mfg., Inc.
Murfreesboro, TN USA
I understand that not a single crime has been committed by a 50 caliber. Go figure.
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