Gov. Schwarzenegger Last Hope for Protecting Marriage in California

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

By Sam Kastensmidt

After the California State Senate and Assembly approved legislation (AB 849) to legalize same-sex "marriage" — against the will of California voters — pro-family advocates are turning their eyes to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose veto is the last hope for protecting traditional marriage in California. The Governor's office has released a statement promising, "We cannot have a system where the people vote and the Legislature derails the vote. Out of respect for the will of the people, the governor will veto AB 849."

However, pro-family advocates must continue to encourage him to follow through on his promise.

Governor Schwarzenegger
(916) 445-2841
Fax: (916) 445-4633

On September 1, the State Senate approved the bill 21-15. Five days later, the California State Assembly voted 41 to 35 (the bare minimum needed for approval) to pass the bill, though identical legislation had been defeated in the Assembly only three months earlier.

History of Gay Marriage Legislation

Assembly Bill 849 was introduced by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), an open homosexual, as an amendment to existing legislation which dealt with the "fish and game code relating to fisheries." Because the California Assembly had already defeated the measure just three months earlier, Leno orchestrated the gutting of the existing legislation concerning the "propagation, rearing, stocking, and distribution of adversely affected marine fish species."

The gutted bill was then amended to change existing state marriage law, which had defined marriage as "a personal relation arising out of a civil contract between a man and a woman."

If endorsed by Governor Schwarzenegger, AB 849 would redefine marriage as a civil contract between "two persons."

Same Legislation Defeated Three Months Earlier

On June 2, 2005, the California Assembly voted to reject a nearly identical proposal to legalize same-sex "marriage." The legislation fell four votes short. Sadly, all four Assembly Members who had previously abstained ... cowered to political pressure, putting AB 849 over the top by one vote.

Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton): (916) 319-2052
Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Ontario): (916)319-2061
Simon Salinas (D-Salinas): (916) 319-2028
Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana): (916) 319-2069

Ignoring the Will of California Voters

Incredibly, this vote was largely divided along party lines, with each of the 41 supporters coming from the Democratic Party. Not only does this reveal the lack of independent thinking among lawmakers, but it is a bold slap in the face of the voters of California. In March 2000, 61.4% of California voters approved Proposition 22, declaring: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” A whopping 101 out of 120 legislative districts voted in favor of the measure.

Sadly, the elected representatives of California no longer seem to care what their constituents think!