Schwarzenegger
hinting that he'll veto
same-sex-marriage
bill
By JIM SANDERS,
Sacramento Bee from the Web, September 7, 2005
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger's office is hinting that he will veto legislation
permitting gay and lesbian couples to marry in California.
Five years after Californians overwhelmingly voted to limit marriage to a man
and woman, the state Assembly approved the legislation Tuesday. It would
make California the first state to sanction gay marriage without court
intervention.
Supporters lined up to hug Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, after his
bill passed the Assembly by a razor-thin margin following nearly 90 minutes of
emotional debate.
The final vote was 41-35, the bare minimum needed for passage. Leno hailed
the vote as a victory for liberty and equality.
"This is one of those kinds of bills that only happen when like-minded people
take the step together," he said.
In a statement, Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Margita Thompson stopped short of
saying the Republican governor would veto the bill, but suggested proponents
have little reason for hope.
"The people spoke when they passed Proposition 22," the statement said.
"The issue subsequently went to the courts. The governor believes the
courts are the correct venue for this decision to be made. He will uphold
whatever decision the court renders."
When San Francisco moved to grant marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples
last year, Schwarzenegger said the action posed "an imminent risk to civil
order" and asked state Attorney General Bill Lockyer to intervene to require the
city and county to comply with state law.
Later, Schwarzenegger told Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" that he believes in
domestic partnership. But he added he wouldn't mind if Californians voted
to legalize gay marriage, saying, "If the people change their minds and want to
overrule that, that's fine with me."
Democratic political consultant Roger Salazar said Schwarzenegger, already
struggling in the polls, would risk losing core Republican voters if he signed
the bill.
Opponents accused Democrats of betraying Californians who five years ago
approved Proposition 22, which limits marriage to a man and a woman.
"We disrespect and undermine what we stand for as a democracy when we don't
listen to the people," said Assemblyman Mark Wyland, R-Del Mar.
Mark Leno claims that Proposition 22 applies only to state recognition of
marriages that occur outside of California.
Tuesday's vote reversed a June 2 vote by the Assembly, which rejected Leno's
gay-marriage proposal by four votes.
Leno subsequently amended his legislation into a separate bill in the Senate,
and it passed the upper house last week, 21-15.
To survive Tuesday's vote, Leno's bill needed four Assembly members to change
their minds and support gay marriage -- and he got them.
The bill has been the subject of intense lobbying on all sides.
Latino legislators were seen as critical in deciding its fate. The United
Farm Workers union and its state political director, Christine Chavez, have been
intensely involved in lobbying for the bill. Dolores Huerta, who
co-founded the UFW, has been vocal about her support for gay marriage and
attended Tuesday's Assembly vote.
The bill requires California to recognize gay marriage as a gender-neutral civil
contract between two people.
The legislation does not require churches to honor same-sex unions.
Two years ago, Massachusetts became the only state to recognize gay marriages
under an order from its state Supreme Court. Vermont and Connecticut
recognize civil unions between gay and lesbian couples.
Assembly opponents criticized same-sex marriages as immoral and a betrayal of
family values.
Assemblyman Ray Haynes, R-Murrieta, accused lawmakers of engaging in "social
experimentation" that will affect generations of Californians.
Assemblyman Jay La Suer, R-La Mesa, said supporters are "betraying your
constituents and their moral and ethical values."
Supporters were equally passionate about the issue.
Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, likened the ban on gay marriages to
discrimination against weddings involving Chinese and whites in the late 1800s.
"Marriage laws are not made in some divine, untouchable place beyond the reach
of mortals," she said. "Just as humans have passed unjust marriage laws,
humans can undo them."
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said he cannot support state laws
that give more rights to heterosexual lawmakers than to gay colleagues Leno,
Jackie Goldberg and John Laird. "I do not deserve any right that cannot be
afforded to you," he told them.
Added Assemblywoman Patty Berg, D-Eureka: "Let us remember that slavery
was always the law until some brave citizens stood up and said, 'This is not
right.' "
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