Sep 29 2005
Having it both ways
The Republican line has always been that an issue such as gay marriage should not be decided by the courts. It should be decided by the legislatures, the elected representatives of the people.
The California legislature, earlier this summer, passed a bill legalizing gay marriage. The Republican governor of that state vetoed that bill today, saying that gay marriage is a constitutional issue and needs to be decided by the courts.
Okay, Republicans… which is it? You can’t really have it both ways, you know. Or perhaps in your world, you can.
Schwarzenegger vetoes Calif. gay marriage bill SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a widely expected move vetoed a bill on Thursday that would have allowed gay couples to marry.
The Republican governor had earlier this month indicated he would veto the bill passed by California’s Democrat-led legislature. The bill was the first of its kind approved by a state legislature.
Schwarzenegger said he would leave the contentious issue of same-sex marriage to voters and the courts. “I do not believe the legislature can reverse an initiative approved by the people of California,” he said in a written statement.
“This bill simply adds confusion to a constitutional issue,” Schwarzenegger wrote. “If the ban of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, this bill is not necessary. If the ban is constitutional, this bill is ineffective.”
California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez sharply criticized Schwarzenegger’s veto.
“History will show that Gov. Schwarzenegger had a chance to end the last vestige of legal discrimination in our state,” Nunez said in a statement. “Instead of choosing the way of the future the governor has aligned himself with the enemies of equal rights for all.”
