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Oregon Legislative Counsel: "SB 1000-A is constitutional as written."

Jeff_1

I have received several calls to my office regarding concerns that SB 1000 violates Measure 36 and Oregon's constitution. Therefore, I asked Oregon Legislative Counsel to provide me with an opinion regarding the constitutionality of SB 1000.

I received a letter, dated July 20th, 2005 from David Heynderickx, Legislative Counsel responding to my request. I have posted the letter here for anyone interested to read, print out, copy and distribute:

Download LC-SB1000Letter.pdf

The letter clearly states that Oregon Legislative Counsel believes SB-1000-A is constitutional as written.

A couple of key excerpts from the letter:

"Senate Bill 1000-A does not create a "marriage" by another name..."

"...Senate Bill 1000-A does not create a "same-sex marriage" under the guise of another name."

"In conclusing, we believe Senate Bill 1000-A is constitutional as written."

July 21, 2005 by Democratic Leader Jeff Merkley
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Comments

The question of constitutionality regarding SB1000 does not have anything to do with the main argument of the bill's opponents -- that it flouts the will of the people. By a margin of almost a quarter-million Oregonians, voters said in the November election that they believed marriage was appropriate only between one man and one woman. You can complain until blue in the face that SB1000 is not marriage, but many of the 1,028,546 people who voted for Measure 36 would likely disagree. SB1000 flat-out states that civil unions will be "substantially equivalent" to marriage; anyone who understands English and uses some common sense would agree that's an end-run around Measure 36, despite your protests and your counsel's legalese to the contrary.

Posted by: Ken | Jul 23, 2005 9:44:34 PM

and if ya give 'em an inch------next is "I do"----

Posted by: brevityohyeah | Jul 24, 2005 12:47:15 PM

Da Truth about the lies of the Measure 36 supporters:

“Same-sex couples should seek marriage-like rights through another avenue, such as civil unions.”
Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Bend Bulletin 8/20/2004

“If same-sex couples need legal protection, they should consult their legislative representatives. If they need legislation to do that, no one is going to stand in their way.”
Defense of Marriage Coalition Executive Director Mike White Lincoln City News Guard 11/10/2004

“Gay and lesbian couples are free to pursue marriage-like rights via a different avenue, such as civil unions that have been approved in Vermont.”
Defense of Marriage Coalition Spokesperson Georgene Rice Deschutes County Bulletin 9/30/2004

“The Coalition’s amendment did not preclude the state of Oregon from creating civil unions, so that same-sex couples could have the same rights as married heterosexual couples.”
Defense of Marriage Coalition Spokesperson Georgene Rice The Dalles Chronicle 9/30/2004

“The notion that civil unions by definition would be unequal is without merit because civil unions become what you make them.”
Defense of Marriage Coalition Spokesperson Georgene Rice Oregon Public Broadcasting 10/2004

“The coalition set out to defend marriage, and now we have an amendment that does that.”
Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign AP 11/22/2004

“Oregon’s measure was written specifically not to address civil unions.”
Tim Nashif, Oregon Family Council Director and an organizer of the Measure 36 campaign Bend Bulletin. 11/6/2004

Posted by: Da Truth | Jul 25, 2005 10:57:04 AM

Flip-flopping right-wingers. Gotta love 'em!

Posted by: CAM | Jul 26, 2005 2:25:01 PM

Hello

Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!


Bye

















Posted by: likopinko | Sep 10, 2007 8:04:11 AM

Hi

Not bad at all!

Posted by: yotixon | Sep 13, 2007 11:01:38 PM

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