Legislative Update (9/9/2009)

Legislative Update

September 9, 2009

Each year as the Legislature approaches its year-end adjournment, legislators attempt to push through controversial or contentious legislation.  This update is intended to keep citizens informed of the current legislative actions that could impact families.

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Legislature Continues to Approve Anti-Family Measures

Last week, the Legislature began the final process of approving measures of great concern to California families.  On Friday the Assembly approved Senate Bills (SB) 54 and 572, authored by Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco).  SB 54 requires the state of California to validate and recognize same-sex marriages performed outside the state of California prior to November 5, 2008.  The bill specifically violates Article I, Section 7.5 of the California Constitution which states “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” 

SB 572, the “Harvey Milk” bill, requires the governor to annually proclaim May 22 a “day of significance” in honor of San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly homosexual politician.  The measure wrongly encourages schools to supplant students’ classroom time in order to conduct “commemorative exercises” and activities related to Milk’s contributions.  Both measures passed the Assembly on party-line votes and were returned to the Senate for concurrence (i.e., approval) of Assembly amendments.

Yesterday, the Legislature continued the required approval process to send these two measures to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for his signature or veto.  The Senate promptly approved the Assembly amendments to SB 572 on party-line vote, with Republicans opposed. 

However, SB 54 was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review because the measure was gutted and amended in the Assembly (the process of deleting the original bill language with completely new language, creating a wholly new bill). After a brief hearing, the measure will be approved by the committee and returned to the Senate Floor for a vote by the entire Senate body.  If approved, the measure will also be sent to the governor for his signature or veto.

Two other legislative actions that concern California families were also approved yesterday.  Assembly Joint Resolutions (AJR) 13 (Ammiano, D-San Francisco) and 15 (De Leon, D-Los Angeles) were both approved by the State Assembly.  AJR 13 petitions the federal government to remove current safety barriers that prevent high-risk patients from being eligible to donate blood.  The resolution requests the President of the United States to encourage the Secretary of Health to adopt policies that would repeal the FDA policy that prohibits blood donation by men who have sex with other men.

Assembly Joint Resolution 15 encourages Congress to pass, and the President to sign, the United American Family Act, which would require the United States to permit same-sex partners legal immigration status, as married couples.  Again, both these resolutions were approved on party-line votes and are headed to the Senate for approval.

All of these measures demonstrate the power that the homosexual special interests hold in the Legislature.  Despite vocal opposition to the measures from legislators’ constituents, special interest agendas continue to take precedence over California families.  Join the California Family Council in opposing these measures by contacting Governor Schwarzenegger.  To contact the governor and your legislative representative, visit our Legislative Action Center on the CFC web site.

Water Agreement Elusive

There was great hope in the Capitol last week that the special joint committee on water would finally find agreement on a water plan to address the state’s water crisis.  Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), who co-chairs the 14-member committee with Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, had planned on the committee approving a compromise proposal by Tuesday. 

However, failure to identify a funding source over the weekend to address the state’s insufficient storage capacity and water conveyance needs made agreement unattainable.  Legislators plan to meet again on Wednesday in hopes of finding a resolution, but without funding to build additional storage capacity (dams) and a canal to move water southward, agreement will remain elusive. 

Is Governor Schwarzenegger Using Extortion or Just Focused?

There are three days remaining before the Legislature adjourns for the year.  Yesterday, in a move to focus the Legislature on his main priorities, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger requested the State Senate and Assembly withdraw 73 bills (43 Senate and 30 Assembly) that were previously approved by their respective legislative house and sent to him.  According to differing reports, Governor Schwarzenegger is either desirous of additional time to review bills sent to him or he wants all other business halted until more pressing state issues are addressed. 

Matt David, Governor Schwarzenegger’s Communications Director, in an email sent to Assembly chiefs of staff, stated “the Governor believes that we must act on the major issues facing our state - water, prison, renewable portfolio standards, appointments - before we consider other issues. These issues have been debated for up to 5 years; it's time for action so we can move California forward.” 

The governor’s request caused an uproar among legislators causing Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) to vehemently express his outrage regarding the governor’s request on the Assembly Floor.  In a brief statement, he accused the governor of extortion and challenged the Assembly to refuse the governor’s request, even if he “vetoes” their bills.

However, Governor Schwarzenegger’s request is not unprecedented.  During the budget impasse, the governor was resolute in his preference for legislators to focus their attention on the budget, over their policy wish lists.  Further, he often chided and rebuked the Legislature for convening meetings and hearings that diverted legislators away from addressing the state deficit.

As the year comes to a close, it is evident that tensions are on the rise and patience is evaporating.  The next three days will provide us with a clear picture of how effective the Legislature will be in addressing issues this fall and next year.

Senate Reconvenes at 9:30 a.m.

Assembly reconvenes at 9:00 a.m.