Ballot Initiative Launched to Get California Out of the Marriage Business

[furrbear]

From Towleroad:

Secretary of State Debra Bowen has approved for circulation a ballot initiative that would effectively get the State of California out of the "marriage" business. Ali Shams and Kaelan Housewright, two heterosexual University of Southern California students yesterday submitted a ballot measure initiative with California Attorney General Jerry Brown that would replace the term "marriage" with "domestic partnership" in California law.

Under the rules of the initative, they must collect 694,354 signatures by August 6, 2009 to get it on the ballot.

Here's the text of the initiative:

"The Attorney General of California has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure: SUBSTITUTES DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP FOR MARRIAGE IN CALIFORNIA LAW. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. Replaces the term 'marriage' with the term 'domestic partnership' throughout California law, but preserves the rights provided in marriage. Applies equally to all couples, regardless of sexual orientation. Repeals the provision in California’s Constitution that states only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: This measure would have an unknown fiscal effect on state and local governments. (09-0003.)"

Under an initiative, Californians can "directly propose and enact state laws and amendments to the California Constitution. Under the initiative process, a proposed statute or constitutional amendment must receive a specified number of valid petition signatures in order to be placed on a statewide ballot for consideration by voters."

Here's the PDF.

Comments

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

My take on its chances? Snowball. Alice Springs. January.

[gearjock.livejournal.com]

Yeah, instead of crawling 1000 miles across the desert for a Coke, why not just walk across the street and buy one.

Put an amendment in recognizing gays rights to marry and find some folks with the organizational skills to make it work.

I mean the right wing whack jobs and churches are hurting for money in this economy, so less fiscla support, or better yet if you REALLY wanted to drive them to the edge of bankrupcy, sponsor one in all 50 states, they cannot resource all of them and still survive fiscally....

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

This is quite interesting, coming on the heels of a proposal for a national civil union bill.