Sacramento, Calif. – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger followed through Thursday on his promise to veto a bill to legalize same-sex marriage, leaving the issue up to voters or judges who will likely face the volatile issue next year.
“This bill simply adds confusion to a constitutional issue,” the Republican governor said in a veto message.
Schwarzenegger had announced his intention Sept. 7, a day after the Legislature became the first in the country to approve a bill allowing gays and lesbians to wed.
Schwarzenegger said the bill by Democratic Assemblyman Mark Leno contradicted Proposition 22, which was approved by voters in 2000 and said only a marriage between a man and woman is valid.
Schwarzenegger noted that a state appeals court was considering whether the state’s ban on gay marriage is constitutional and that the issue would likely be decided by the California Supreme Court.
“If the ban of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, this bill is not necessary,” he said. “If the ban is constitutional, this bill is ineffective.” Leno, who is openly gay, said Schwarzenegger had missed a historic opportunity to stand up for civil rights.
