Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Sunday he will not join legislative Democrats in a court fight against Proposition 8 despite his opposition to the same-sex marriage ban, but he believes the courts ultimately should and will allow such marriages in California.
The Republican governor reiterated on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" that, "for me, marriage is between a man and a woman. But I don't want to ever force my will on anyone."
"I think that the Supreme Court was right by saying (a gay marriage ban) was unconstitutional and that everyone should have the right," Schwarzenegger said. "So the Supreme Court, you know, I think ought to go and look at that again. And we'll go back to the same decision. … I think that they will. And I think that the important thing now is to resolve this issue in that way."
Schwarzenegger compared the legal battle over same-sex marriage to a 1948 challenge in which the California Supreme Court declared a ban on interracial marriage unconstitutional.
While voters approved a constitutional ban on gay marriage through the ballot process this month, Schwarzenegger suggested precedent exists for ruling some initiatives unconstitutional. He cited the fact that courts blocked Proposition 187, which voters approved in 1994 to deny public benefits, such as health care and education, to illegal immigrants.
Proposition 8 passed with 52 percent of the vote. Opponents of Proposition 8 filed challenges after the Nov. 4 election challenging the initiative on grounds that it was an illegal constitutional revision, and as such should have required two-thirds approval.
Democratic state legislators last week filed a "friend of the court" brief supporting the challenge.
Initiative proponents have accused challengers of trying to subvert the will of the voters.
Meanwhile, the governor said he would consult with Attorney General Jerry Brown over the legal issues involved in possibly upholding an estimated 18,000 gay marriages already conducted in California between the court's decision in May and the election.
The governor also repeated his desire for the federal government to help California with its budget troubles.
"I think that Washington can give some of that money to the state. And we're not talking about a lot of money, but maybe $5 billion a year, for the next three years, until we get out of this economic crunch that we're in," Schwarzenegger said.
Schwarzenegger, however, said California, like the auto industry and others looking for federal help, should get it only if it can "prove that we have our fiscal house in order, and that we can solve our problems ourselves."
The governor suggested that the auto industry must reduce benefits to its workers, on par with automakers based in Germany or Japan, before they receive help from the federal government.
Schwarzenegger has proposed budget-balancing measures that include a sales tax increase and cuts to education and other programs.
Call Kevin Yamamura, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5548.
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