Prop. 8 supporters criticize ‘grandstanding’ California legislators

Sacramento, Calif., Dec 3, 2008 / 19:21 pm

Leaders of the successful California Proposition 8 campaign to restore the definition of marriage in the state have criticized state legislators opposed to the measure of “grandstanding for the cameras.”

Openly homosexual legislators and other members of the GLBT Caucus on Tuesday held a press conference in Sacramento announcing the introduction of a legislative resolution declaring Proposition 8 to be an illegal “constitutional revision” and advocating that the California Supreme Court overturn the law.

Lawsuits challenging the legality of Proposition 8 argue that the measure ignores the civil rights of a vulnerable minority group and claim that the successful proposition illegally revised the constitution instead of merely amending it.

A press release from the ProtectMarriage.com – Yes on 8 organization questioned the legislators’ qualifications as constitutional scholars and reported that their resolution has no standing in courts of law.

“This resolution adds nothing to the debate about the validity of Proposition 8. It is simply designed to get press coverage for the legislators involved,” said Andrew Pugno, General Counsel of ProtectMarriage.com. “The California Supreme Court, at our request, has already decided to hear the challenges to Proposition 8.”

Pugno, agreeing with several legal scholars, expressed confidence that Proposition 8 will be upheld.

“The Court is not swayed by meaningless legislative resolutions that have no bearing on the outcome of the court challenges,” he remarked.

Ron Prentice, Chairman of ProtectMarriage.com – Yes on 8, was also critical of the legislators.

“You’d think that these legislators would be focused on resolving the budget deficit or improving the economy. Instead, they seem more interested in grandstanding for the cameras and thumbing their noses at voters who enacted Proposition 8 by a nearly 600,000 vote margin,” Prentice said. “Sadly, with an approval rating hovering at an all-time low of 15%, the Legislature continues to disregard their duties to the citizens of California.”

The California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Spring of 2009, the California Catholic Daily reports.

California Secretary of State Jerry Brown and lawyers for the Yes on 8 campaign were directed by Supreme Court justices to submit arguments by December 19 explaining why the initiative should not be nullified. Plaintiffs must respond to the Yes on 8 arguments by January 5.

Proposition 8 passed with 52.3 percent of the vote, comparable to the national margin won by President-elect Barack Obama. It reportedly received about 2 million votes more than Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in his 2006 re-election.