Pro-Family candidates may receive Scarlet Letters. Ask Governor to Veto AB 866 & AB 215

In my April 14th post "The Thought Police are Here!” I discussed AB 866 which would prohibit candidates for public office from speaking out against the homosexual lifestyle. Well this bill and it’s sister bill AB 215, have made it to the governor’s desk.

Below is the text of a letter by Assemblyman Tim Leslie (R Tahoe) asking Governor Schwarzenegger to veto both measures. Assemblyman Leslie is one of few legislators who have taken a vocal position against this effort to silence pro-family candidates. (Press Release Here)

August 29, 2005

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Governor
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
I respectfully request that you veto AB 866 (Yee) and AB 215 (Orpezza).

AB 866 (Yee) adds language to the voluntary Code of Fair Campaign Practices that would prohibit “appeals to negative prejudice” based on sexual orientation or gender identity. When combined with AB 215 (Oropeza), which would require that whether or not a candidate agreed to abide by the Code be printed in the official ballot pamphlet, this bill would effectivly coerce candidates into limiting their freedom of speech.

The signing of these bills would amount to nothing more that a government funded “Sacrlett Letter” to pin on pro-family candidates.

In 1986 the State Attorney General issued an opinion on a simular issue that clearly outlines how this bill violates the rights of political candidates. Specifically the Attorney General opinion stated “…there would be a coercive effect to require the candidate to ‘voluntarily’ sign the code. Yet in signing the code, the candidate would agree to conduct his campaign within the limits of the code and this restrict his freedom of speech well beyond the area of unprotected speech-that is, the deliberate falsehood.”

This is an attempt to silence expression of deeply held moral values and is a clear violation of our First Amendment right to free speech. It is for this reason I ask that you Veto AB AB 866 and AB 215.

Sincerely,
TIM LESLIE
Assemblyman, Fourth District

I urge you to join Assemblyman Leslie in writing the Governor and asking him to veto these bills. Click Here for more Details!

Craig DeLuz

Visit The Home of Uncommon Sense...
www.craigdeluz.com