(10/18/2005)

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to Veto Homosexual Marriage Bill
TVC Lobbyist Applauds Decision

Anaheim, California —“Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ensured that the will of the people is respected and not trampled on by radical homosexual activists in the Legislature,” said Benjamin Lopez, Lobbyist for Traditional Values Coalition (TVC). “Reason ultimately prevailed. Schwarzenegger is saying by his veto that 4.6 million Californians are right when it comes to marriage .”

Just moments ago Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office issued a statement confirming that he will veto Assembly Bill 849, by homosexual Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), a bill that would strike references to “male” and “female” in the marriage code and would instead add the phrase “two persons” to the definition of marriage thereby allowing two men or two women to marry.

Margita Thompson, Press Secretary for Gov. Schwarzenegger, made the following statement:

"Five years ago the matter of same-sex marriage was placed before the people of California. The people voted and the issue is now before the courts. The Governor believes the matter should be determined not by legislative action - which would be unconstitutional - but by court decision or another vote of the people of our state. We cannot have a system where the people vote and the Legislature derails that vote. Out of respect for the will of the people, the Governor will veto AB 849."

In the March 2000 Primary Election, 61.4% of California voters passed Proposition 22, which stated: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” 101 out of 120 legislative districts voted in favor of Prop 22.

“Forty-one Democrats in the Assembly and twenty-one Democrats in the Senate underhandedly tried to implement their twisted, out-of-step, out-of-mainstream notion of family and marriage upon the very people they claim to represent,” Lopez added. “They arrogantly ignored the will of their constituents and instead catered to the radical demands of homosexual activists. They fell on their swords to appease the most extreme faction of their party and it was all for not. They are to be ashamed.

“Finally, someone in the legislative process got it! It is the people that spoke back in March 2000 and it was the people that sent a political earthquake today with the thousands of phone calls, emails, faxes and letters to the Governor demanding he respect them, their vote, and the institution of the family…and he did!”