[courtesy of Blog for America]

The Los Angeles Times reports on a constitutional amendment initiative in California which would outlaw marriage equality:

Setting the stage for a political showdown, the California secretary of state today said an initiative barring gay marriage had enough signatures to qualify for the Nov. 4 ballot.

The proposal would amend the state Constitution to define marriage as a union "between a man and a woman" and undo last month's historic California Supreme Court ruling, which found that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was unconstitutional.

Danny

Communications Director

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Gavin Newsom
Mayor
San Francisco

California has always been a place where traditional barriers of class, race, gender have been pushed aside by a spirit of equality and opportunity that says to all - no matter who you are, and no matter where you come from - "It Can Be Done."

In that spirit, yet one more barrier gave way when the California State Supreme Court ruled that all Californians - regardless of the traditional barrier of sexual orientation - have the right to marry.

This is an historic moment - both for California and our country. From this moment forward, there can be no going back.

The road ahead will be difficult. Despite today's historic ruling, the same groups that sponsored the 2000 California ballot measure that challenged marriage equality are getting closer to placing a measure on the November ballot that would write discrimination into our state Constitution. This effort would not only overturn laws granting the most basic rights to same-sex couples - it would effectively nullify today's Supreme Court ruling.

Stand up for Marriage Equality today. Sign the petition now.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

(full disclosure: I work for the Courage Campaign)

Dean Logan, the acting Registrar of Voters in Los Angeles issued a detailed

by Barry Sussman [courtesy of Blog for America]

Governor Corzine is getting Florioed. Lest anyone forget, Jim Florio was the last governor with a balanced budget as prescribed by the State Constitution. For his efforts, Governor Florio was targeted by the precursor of Swift Boat Veterans, Hands Across New Jersey. Through relentless attacks in the media, Governor Florio was pilloried for balancing the budget on the backs of those who could most afford it. Hands Across New Jersy was a well funded public relations effort by New Jersey's wealthiest residents to avoid paying their fair share.

As a result we were cursed with the Whitman plan to bankrupt our treasury. Since Whitman's pandering to short sighted voters worked, we have been in a fiscal hole that Governor Corzine is trying to close. There are no easy solutions. When tough decisions are made, someone gets hurt.

For the past few months there have been a barrage of letters in the Star-Ledger chastizing the governor for his plans to close the hole caused by Whitman's irresponsible, politically expedient plan. Everyone is demanding the governor make cuts in wasteful spending. The problem is, one person's waste in another's life support.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

Don’t forget to vote on California Ballot Propositions when you cast your ballot for Presidential candidates—otherwise other voters will be deciding these important state issues for you.