Governor Signs Homosexual Bills over Vocal Objections  >  Dateline Sacramento (8/27/2009  >  Dateline Sacramento (9/10/2009)  >  Legislative Update (9/9/2009)  >  Going,going, gone: 2009 legislative session wrap-up

Going,going, gone: 2009 legislative session wrap-up

 
Going, going, gone: 2009 legislative session wrap-up
by Rebecca Burgoyne
Each year, the California legislative session wraps up at a fast and frenzied pace, as legislators—who want their terms in office to be remembered for bold accomplishments—rush to advance their ideas through the system. Most years, legislators return to their districts in mid-September and don’t return to the Capitol until a new session begins in January. As 2009 was the first part of the 2009-10 two-year session bills that failed to reach the governor’s desk may resume their journey in January.
In the fall, the focus shifts to the governor who has 30 days from the close of the session to sign or veto legislation. Complicating the schedule this year, legislators are expected to return to Sacramento sometime this fall to deal with remaining pressing issues in “special sessions” relating to education reform, tax reform—and possibly water supply.
Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed dozens of bills passed in the final session hours with a rubber-stamped veto message that indicated the budget stalemate had left him too little time to adequately review the many measures on his desk. This year, the political showmanship continued as the governor—indicating that legislators should focus on key issues first—vetoed a bill honoring Vietnam veterans. Capitol watchers wonder if the governor will continue this “scorched-earth” policy vetoing many bills on principle.
As the session ended last month, more than 600 bills awaited Schwarzenegger’s actions. While California Family Council applauds the actions of legislators in the areas of adoption, foster care, and protecting victims of human trafficking, legislators again refused to heed the opinions of their constituents in regard to the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.
Flaunting the people’s will
Last November, seven million California voters affirmed the definition of marriage as between only a man and a woman. Yet, California politicians—often on party-line votes—continue to undermine the will of the people. Senate Bill 54, Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, which would require California to recognize same-sex marriages performed outside the state prior to the Nov. 5, 2008 passage of Proposition 8, was approved by the Democrat majority in both houses and awaits the governor’s action. What part of the clear intent of Proposition 8—“Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California”—do they not understand?
SB 54 wasn’t the only attempt by California’s majority Democrats to cater to special interests while rejecting the will of California voters.  Several Assembly resolutions expressed the opinion of legislators to deny traditional marriage and support homosexual rights; these measures will be considered in the Senate in January. Because resolutions do not have force of law, but merely express the collective opinion of the legislators, they do not go to the governor for his approval or rejection.
Assembly Joint Resolution 19, Julia Brownley, D-Woodland Hills, asks Congress and the president to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, the federal legislation dating to the Clinton administration that allows states to define marriage. Another one, AJR 15, Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, urges Congress and the president to pass federal law allowing same-sex partners the same immigration status as married couples.
Milk Day
Homosexual marriage isn’t the only area where California legislators remain at odds with their constituents.  For a second year, legislators OK’d Sen. Mark Leno’s proposal to honor homosexual icon Harvey Milk with a “day of significance” in the public schools. Vetoed last year by the governor, SB 572 would encourage schools to devote precious class time to the honoring of Milk, the state’s first openly homosexual elected official.  While such an honor runs contrary to the values of most parents, Schwarzenegger will be under considerable pressure to sign the bill in the aftermath of the movie “Milk” and its publicity—and President Barack Obama’s awarding of a Medal of Freedom posthumously to Milk.
Another bill authored by Leno, SB 543, ignores the authority of parents and would allow children as young as 12 to receive counseling and mental health treatment without parental knowledge or consent. SB 543 remains in the Assembly, where it may be considered in January.
A little good news
The problem of human trafficking—or modern-day slavery—has become increasingly common in California and throughout the world. Between 14,500 and 17,500 victims are brought into the United States annually to be enslaved for sexual or labor exploitation. In California—a prime destination due to its international borders, ports, airports, and large immigrant population—increased awareness has led state leadership to combat the problem. Two bills on the governor’s desk—AB 17, Sandré Swanson, D-Oakland, and SB 557, Leland Yee, D-San Francisco—would substantially increase the penalties for those convicted of human trafficking.
All that remains for this session is for Schwarzenegger to sign or veto the bills sent to him by the Legislature. Will he support the people’s will—or will he cater to special interests and legislators? The 2009 session is going, going, gone, but the encore—2010—is just around the corner.
As printed in the Christian Examiner
 
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