Assemblyman Salinas takes pride in casting pivotal vote for bill
Monterey County Herald, The (CA)
September 8, 2005
Author: LARRY PARSONS
Estimated printed pages: 2
Assemblyman Simon Salinas says that casting the pivotal vote in the Assembly to pass a same-sex
marriage bill was the most difficult vote he has made in the Legislature ? and the one he may be most proud
of.
"You wrestle with everything ? your personal beliefs, your constituency, your religion, and of course, your
future political path," Salinas said Wednesday. "But that becomes minor when you look at more of who I am
as an individual and look back on what I did that particular day on the Assembly floor."
Salinas, a three-term Democrat from Salinas, had abstained from voting in June on a similar bill to legalize
gay marriage and had planned to probably do the same this week when the controversial measure again hit
the Assembly floor.
Instead, he voted in favor of the bill, which passed 41-35, the bare majority it needed to pass the 80-member
Assembly. Also voting in favor after abstaining previously were three other Democrats ? Mervyn Dymally of
Compton, Gloria Negrete McLeod of Chino and Tom Umberg of Santa Ana.
Salinas, facing term limits and weighing a run in the 12th Senate District now held by Republican Sen. Jeff
Denham of Modesto, said the civil-rights underpinning of the gay-marriage bill and "vindictive and spiteful"
opposition arguments clinched his decision.
"I have always taken pride in fighting any form of discrimination, whether it be against farmworkers, the
homeless or minorities," he said. "You can't stand on the sidelines. You have to say yes or no."
Salinas' vote drew fire from the Monterey County Republican Party, which issued a press release
Wednesday saying the gay-marriage bill "blatantly disregards the will" of California voters who passed
Proposition 22 in 2000 defining marriage as a union between a man and woman.
Amy Thoma, county GOP executive director, said the Legislature's passage of the bill underscores the
"need for redistricting and a more accountable Legislature."
Republicans are backing Proposition 77 on the November ballot which would strip the Legislature's power to
draw lawmakers' districts and give it to a panel of retired judges.
Salinas said voters in his 28th District supported Proposition 22 by a 55-percent majority. He said he will tell
constituents that the same-sex marriage bill "doesn't affect your religion or your choices."
He said the issue boils down to a question of whether "your government should treat people differently."
Salinas expects his vote to come into play in a possible Senate race, but he's not worried.
"People will see it as a typical Republican wedge issue intended to divide people, rather than bring them
together," he said.
The bill, which now goes to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, is the first passed by a U.S. state legislature to
allow same-sex marriages.
Larry Parsons can be reached at 646-4379 or lparsons@montereyherald.com.
---All contents ?2005 MONTEREY COUNTY HERALD and may not be republished without written permission.
Section: Top Story
Page: A1
Copyright (c) 2005 The Monterey County Herald
Record Number: 10980925