Newsgroups: soc.motss
Distribution: world
Subject: AB-3825 passes California Legislature (2 Gay Rights Bills await veto)

From Bryan Blumberg:

AB-2601 is Assemblyman Terry Friedman's bill to amend the Labor Code
to prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.
When Pete Wilson vetoed AB-101 last year (which would have amended the
Fair Employment and Housing Act), Pete said the bill was uncessary
because the appellate court in Soroka vs. Dayton Hudson ruled that
the Labor Code already offered employment protection.  So, AB-2601
was Friedman's response saying basically, "O.K., Governor, you say
that the Labor Code offers this protection, then let's not just rely
on an appellate court case, why don't you sign it into the law explicitly."
This is necessary, by the way, because the State Supreme court set
asside the Soroka decision two weeks after Wilson's veto last year
so they could rule on it themselves.  That decision is expected later
this fall.  If AB-2601 is signed, then their decision will not matter.

AB-2601 passed and went to the governor for signature six days ago.

The governor has given no indication whether he would sign or veto
AB-2601.

AB-3825 is Assemblyman Willie Brown's omnibus civil rights package
which among other things contains most of the FIFTEEN civil rights
bills which Pete Wilson vetoed individually last year.  One of the
provisions of AB-3825 is the entire contents of last year's AB-101.

AB-3825 passed and went to the governor for signature late last night.

The governor has been threatening to veto AB-3825 ever since it was
introduced.  Business is opposed to AB-3825, so Wilson is opposed
to AB-3825.

It takes about a week for the paper work to go through and actually have
a bill printed and ready for the governor's signature.  AB-2601 should
get to the Governor's desk some time this week.  AB-3825 should get
to his desk some time next week.  He has until September 30 to sign,
veto, or allow them to become law without his signature.

The question then is, "I heard that the legislature passed a budget
last night and moments later the Governor vetoed it.  What happened
to the week you just said it would take just to get the bill to his
desk?"  To answer you, "I don't know."

In any case, please call the governor's office and ask them to have
Pete sign BOTH AB-3825 and AB-2601.

Just remember, there is a BIG DIFFERENCE between the Legislature
passing a bill and getting Pete Wilson to sign it into law.  If you
thought Deukmejian vetoed a lot of bill, you apparently haven't
been watching Wilson.  He vetoes a lot more.

Here is the info:

The phone numbers for the Governor's office are

    (415) 703-2218 (San Francisco)
    (916) 445-2841 (Sacramento)
    (213) 897-0322 (Los Angeles)

An operator will take your call and record your opinion.  Unfortunately, you
don't get to talk to Gov. Wilson himself.  They may or may not ask for your
name; you only have to give it if you want to.

Ask him to sign BOTH bills, AB-2601 *and* AB-3825.