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.
Damn Swarmy Sneaks....can't even do legislation on the up and up!
He did say he was not for members of the Film Actors Guild being allowed to marry before his election. At the least he should live up to his own words if he has ANY integrity.
He better damn well veto it.
I was quoting someone else. Follow the link backwards. :)
you can bet this will be back just like the zombie "drivers licenses for illegals" from One-Bill-Gill.
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The c'Rats are nothing if not predictable..
Here's hoping the Paycheck Protection initiative passes too..
It would be nice to start to rein in the enablers of the wackos that pass for politicians these days in sacramento.
Personally , the decision is all the Gub can do.
As you mentioned earlier , he ran supporting civil unions or whatever, not gay marriages, and FRankly, in California today, the courts appear to have the final say as well as power to override the will of the people anway on a whim.
If nothing else, it may arouse additional support for the upcoming elections or it may not, my hunch is the latter.
Look at the deck that is already stacked and in play... and who holds the Joker? ;-)
Thank you, Ahnold. :)
Crickets are chirping to break the silence. Was part of that flame war on here supporting Arnold. Knew he would veto!
They can finally exhale and take a deep breath for at least a day or two!!!
The highest national office Arnold can hold is Senator - and I don't think he's interested in that.
I can't stand the Terminator's fawning over the homosexual lifestyle, but you win: HE IS BETTER THAN GREY DEVIS AND BUSTAMENTE.
Excellent!
Hallelujah!! Now I don't have to leave California. Well, at least not this week.
Arnold is probably as good as can today be elected in California. Which isn't saying much, but you take what you can get and are grateful for it. Glad he got this one right.
OMG!!!
Now I've gotta go wash my eyes out with soap!!!!
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