Hat tip: BoifromTroy
BFT received the news via an email from Equality California:
With only vague comments, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 866, authored by Assembly Speaker pro Tem Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/Daly City) and sponsored by Equality California, which was designed to prevent discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals in political campaigns. This was the first of many bills Equality California sponsored this year to make it to the Governor’s desk.
“We are extremely disappointed by Governor Schwarzenegger’s veto of legislation that would have added LGBT people to the list of groups covered by the Fair Political Practice Act’s Voluntary Pledge,” said Geoffrey Kors, Executive Director of Equality California. “Regardless of what he thinks about the enforceability of the Voluntary Pledge, it is ludicrous to exclude one group of people from the rights and protections granted to others. The exclusion of LGBT citizens in this case is just simply an unacceptable form of discrimination.”
Here is the statement from Governor Schwarzenegger —
To the Members of the California State Assembly:
I am returning Assembly Bill 866 without my signature.
I strongly support clean and fair campaigns. The Code of Fair Campaign Practices is unenforceable other than through the exercise of the vote at the ballot box. Candidates and campaigns are free to make their case to the voters about whether their campaign follows or their opponent ignores “basic principles of decency, honesty, and fair play.” I trust the people to be the best judge of conduct of a campaign when they exercise their franchise to vote. I am confident that they will reject candidates that use appeals to negative prejudices against any group of people.
Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
BFT says: “The move is stunning, because Schwarzenegger had signed four pieces of pro-gay legislation in 2004. However, given the ungrateful attitude of the gay community since, and the support of many gay activists for a multi-million dollar ad campaign against him, what can you expect?”
(GP Ed. Note — I at first thought this was a veto of the same-sex marriage legislation that passed yesterday. My apologies for the initial posting.)
Is this a signal as to what Arnold will do with the gay marriage legislation? Time will tell.
-Bruce (GayPatriot)