Prop 8 is Unconstitutional
Citing both the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Federal Constitution, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the US District Court for the Northern District of California, on Wednesday, held that Prop 8’s ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional.
Next stop, the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, then on to the US Supreme Court. When Prop 8 was passed in the Fall of 2008, I wrote a piece for F&HD predicting this result on these very grounds and my article here provoked, shall we say, just a bit of controversy – some very critical comments were posted concerning my constitutional law analysis. Now that the formidable legal talent from both sides of Bush v Gore have combined, the results, at least at the Federal Trial Court level are in.
You can read Judge Walker’s Decision and Order here and likely in many other places in cyberspace by the time you get around to reading this.
Overturning Proposition 8 Evidence Of Judicial Tyranny
To
address the issues raised by the courts, Proposition 8 was placed on
the ballot after Proposition 22 was deemed unconstitutional by the
courts. It is clear that the Judge’s political correctness agenda
prevailed at the expense of the will of the people. Ultimately, it
will be up to the United States Supreme Court to uphold the
constitutionality of Proposition 8.
Thomas Jefferson warned that radical judicial activism would undermine
the will of the people. He said, ‘When the people fear their
government, there is tyranny.’ Today’s ruling was a direct assault to
the over 4.5 million voters in 2000, and the over 7 million who turned
out in 2008 to vote on this vital issue.
So When Will We Have A Budget?
"What’s
the deal with Mel Gibson?" is probably the most common question being
asked by Californians.
But
in the six blocks surrounding the State Capitol, the most common question is,
"When will we have a budget?"
I’ll
leave the mysteries of Mel to the deep thinkers on ETV. But for the rest of
you, here are simple answers to your questions about when the state’s
budget will emerge.
L.A City Council Should Embrace Reform To Reduce Budget Deficit
On
Tuesday, Aug. 3, the Los Angeles City Council will discuss two items
that cut to the heart of the City’s ongoing budget crisis – ballooning
public pension obligations and the chronic inability of the City of Los
Angeles to collect outstanding debt.
Action or inaction on these two
issues will let voters know whether Councilmembers are committed to
major changes that will put the City on the right track toward solving
what has become an annual and perpetual budget crisis.
The Council will
discuss next steps on public pension reform. Pension contributions by
the City of Los Angeles to the three city employee pension funds are
growing by more than $300 million per year, with no end in sight. By
2014, the contributions will amount to more than 25 percent of the
general fund.