Despite Governor’s Threat to Veto All Bills Without a Water Deal, Two Bills Deserve Immediate Vetoes
October 8th — Anaheim, California —“With only 3 days left to take action, Traditional Values Coalition is urging in the strongest terms that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger immediately veto Senate Bill 54 and Senate Bill 572, water deal or not,” said Rev. Lou Sheldon, chairman and founder of Traditional Values Coalition (TVC). “SB 54 will pave the way for continued legal challenges to Prop 8’s constitutional standing and SB 572 will open the floodgates for the glorification of controversial homosexual leaders in all California schools. Both of these bills are unacceptable and warrant immediate vetoes.”
Several recent news reports revealed that Governor Schwarzenegger threatened legislative leaders that all bills on his desk pending action would be vetoed if no satisfactory water deal was agreed to. TVC announced today that it supports the Governor’s potential action. While TVC does not support the objectives of many of the bills on the governor’s desk, such as those bills that would allow for increases in the car tax anywhere from $1 to upwards of $10, and those implementing additional regulations on businesses, allowing for early prisoner release, restricting the right of the people to qualify ballot initiatives and creating more unnecessary commissions (such as the proposed Blueberry Commission), it is SB 54 and SB 572 that is of extreme caution and concern for TVC’s constituency in the state, concerned parents, individuals, pastors and churches.
SB 54 and SB 572, both authored by Senator Mark Leno of San Francisco, are two of the approximately 700-plus bills awaiting action by the governor. SB 54 would allow for all homosexual marriages performed in other states prior to Prop 8’s passing in 2008 to be valid and recognized here in California. SB 572 would create a “Harvey Milk Day” throughout California schools each May 22 of every year, whereby schools would be encouraged to conduct undefined “commemorative exercises” about the homosexual life and political career of Harvey Milk, a San Franciscan who was active in the homosexual movement.
“Gov. Schwarzenegger needs to be consistent when it comes to the same-sex marriage bill on his desk,” Sheldon said. “He said he would not go against the will of the voters when he vetoed Leno’s previous homosexual marriage bills. He must now follow his own lead and logic yet again and soundly reject SB 54. Over 7 million Californians said no to homosexual marriage when they passed Prop 8. Why then should he sign a bill into law that allows for more homosexual marriages to be valid and would give legal footing to those couples from out of state that would seek to undermine Prop 8 in court yet again!!”
TVC’s chief legislative analyst and advocate Benjamin Lopez said this regarding SB 572:
“SB 572 is just like Assembly Bill 2567 from 2008. It is the same bill requiring the same veto. Even the governor’s Secretary of Education issued a letter agreeing with the Governor’s veto of last year’s Harvey Milk Day bill. They said ‘Since the bill is nearly identical, the veto message [from last year] remains applicable [today].’ Nothing has changed since 2008. The governor should not be duped into thinking otherwise. No movie or medal of freedom makes one a national figure worthy of a day of recognition. Especially when more deserving Californians, who were actually known beyond one city and have more accomplishments, such as Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon, Walt Disney, William Randolph Hearst, are overlooked. Harvey Milk has a long line to wait in before he is even justifiably considered for a day of his own.”
Lopez, who testified against SB 572 at every legislative hearing, added: “Harvey Milk died in a political, workplace disagreement that had nothing to do with homosexuality. He is no martyr and no school kid should have to listen to stories about his involvement in the homosexual movement or about his sexual affairs with young men. Milk and his lifestyle have no place in California’s schools. Harvey Milk is not the pride of the Golden State; rather, he is an embarrassment.”
TVC is encouraging concerned individuals to contact the governor to ask that he veto these bills. He can be sent an electronic message at: http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email. Schwarzenegger has until October 11th to take action or all bills automatically become law if no action is taken.
