Schwarzenegger Shoots Down Same-Sex Marriage Bill

The bill passed by a vote of 41-35 in the Assembly this week after a previous defeat in the Assembly in June (See  CA Legislature Approves Same-Sex Marriages ).   The Senate approved the bill earlier by a vote of 21-15.   The Associated Press points out that a veto override in California requires a two thirds vote in both the Assembly and Senate.

The AP reports that the governor’s press secretary Margita Thompson said in a statement that, in spite of his plan to veto the bill, Schwarzenegger still believes “gay couples are entitled to full protection under the law and should not be discriminated against based upon their relationship.”  

Thompson also said the governor is proud of the fact that California provides “the most rigorous protections in the nation for domestic partners.”   California gives same-sex couples many of the rights and duties of marriage with the state as domestic partners.

But gay rights advocates said the governor had betrayed the bipartisan ideals that helped get him elected in the 2003 recall election, according to the AP.

Schwarzenegger has until October 9 to issue the veto.

While the same-sex issue has been gaining attention in California, the Massachusetts Attorney General ruled thata proposed ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriages would be permitted under a section of the Massachusetts Constitution allowing voters to overturn court decisions.   The AP reports that this decision clears the way for conservative groups to begin gathering signatures and lobbying lawmakers to put the issue before voters in 2008.