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.
You shoulda made it bigger! I almost missed it behind all that bilious blubber!!! Like this:
GAY MARRIAGE!!!
So you're saying that even when Arnold is forced to do something right, it still turns out to be wrong? What's new???
Short term victory. Governor Angelides will sign the bill in 2007.
Yes, it should have been bigger.
Prop. 22 allowed the left to construct gay marriage in everything but name. The new ballot initiative (supposedly) fixes that. My hope is that is axes gay adoptions, gay insemination, and gay child rearing in any form.
I could care less about survivor benefits, visitation rights, or the rest of that administrative crap; this is about who gets to raise children.
Yes! Because that's what real marriage is all about... CHILDREN!!! (And child rearing!)
That makes sense.
Petitions are being circulated:
http://www.protectmarriage.com/docs/Official_ProtectMarriage_Petition_short.pdf
1145. (SA2005RF0077, Amdt. #2-NS)
Marriage. Elimination of Domestic Partnership Rights. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Summary Date: 07/25/05 Circulation Deadline: 12/22/05 Signatures Required: 598,105Proponents: Larry Bowler, Ed Hernandez, and Randy Thomasson (916) 265-5643
Amends the California Constitution to provide that only marriage between one man and one woman is valid or recognized in California, whether contracted in this state or elsewhere. Voids and restricts registered domestic partner rights and obligations, for certain same-sex and heterosexual couples, in areas such as: ownership and transfer of property, inheritance, adoption, medical decisions, child custody and child support, health and death benefits, insurance benefits, hospital visitation, employment benefits, and recovery for wrongful death and other tort remedies. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Unknown, but probably not significant, fiscal effect on state and local governments. The impact would depend in large part on future court interpretations.
Oops! I messed that up. The petition link goes with this measure, endorsed by Pete Knight's widow.
http://www.protectmarriage.com/docs/Official_ProtectMarriage_Petition_short.pdf
Marriage. Invalidation of Domestic Partnerships. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Summary Date: 07/27/05 Circulation Deadline: 12/27/05 Signatures Required: 598,105Proponents: Gail Knight, Natalie R. Williams, Mark A. Jansson, and Philip W. Kell, c/o Andrew Pugno (916) 608-3065
Amends the California Constitution to provide that a marriage between a man and a woman is the only legal union that shall be valid or recognized in California. Amendment bars domestic partnerships from being valid or recognized as legal unions in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Unknown, but probably not significant, fiscal effect on state and local governments. The impact would depend in large part on future court interpretations.
LOL. Your post is sandwiched between two alternatives that are in process.
"We cannot have a system where the people vote and the Legislature derails that vote,"
Bingo!
Now it is about time.
Like to say that he took my advice but I wanted him to say this when the legislature first introduced the bill. Now he has to say it, after it passed this hurdle.
God Bless Arnold!
Gay Marriage Has Been Terminated in California.
RINO or not he wears the "R" well today.
Just like I predicted among all the hand-wringers here. I feel vindicated.
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