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Same-Sex 'Marriage' Called A Fiscal Boon for California
By Susan Jones (Morning Editor) (CNSNews.com) - A University of California study says a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry in California would be good for the state's bottom line. The study estimates the state of California stands to gain up to $25-million in additional sales tax revenue each year if AB 1967 becomes law. "This study makes it clear that equal protection is not only the right thing to do morally, but also fiscally," said Geoffrey Kors, Executive Director of Equality California, a homosexual advocacy group. "By passing this bill, the legislature could avoid onerous proposed budget cuts in education and health programs. The Assembly Appropriations Committee cannot in good conscience let this bill die when it could do enormous good for families and for the economy," Kors said in a press release. The bill, AB 1967 -- The Marriage License Non-Discrimination Act -- would "end marriage discrimination against lesbian and gay couples in California," homosexual activists say. But conservative opponents say the "radical" bill would undermine the very foundation of society and violate the will of California voters, who passed an initiative defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman four years ago. The bill calling for California to issue "gender-neutral" marriage licenses has prompted heated debate, and a close vote is expected on Wednesday, when the Assembly Appropriations Committee takes up the measure. (The bill passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee on April 20.) The economic analysis of AB 1967 was conducted by The Williams Project, a think tank at the UCLA School of Law, in collaboration with the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies. According to one of the study's authors, the $25-million windfall to the state would come from increases in sales tax revenues from tourism and from the additional dollars spent on same-sex wedding ceremonies. In addition, the study said, if same-sex couples were allowed to marry, fewer people would qualify for state benefit programs such as Medi-Cal and CalWorks - a significant savings to the state, the study said. "These savings more than offset a decrease in income tax revenues," said Brad Sears, co-author of the study and executive director of the Williams Project. According to Sears, "our analysis makes it clear that providing California families with equal rights is fiscally responsible. Making same-sex partners accountable to each other not only strengthens families; it has a positive impact on the state budget." Sears said the study was timed for release before Wednesday's key vote on AB 1967. A leading critic of the bill, the Campaign for California Families, is urging like-minded Californians to tell their elected representatives they want AB 1967 to be defeated. Randy Thomasson, executive director of the Campaign for California Families, has called the bill "illegal, unconstitutional and immoral" because it "turns marriage upside down and utterly rejects the vote of the people to protect marriage for a man and a woman." The Campaign for California Families also is organizing a protest to protect marriage on May 18 in downtown Los Angeles. The protest will take place outside the office Assemblyman Fabian Nunez, the head Democrat in the State Assembly.
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