Mark Leno Quotations

No. 1, the crime would not have occurred. And the brutality would not have been (as bad) as it was. This was a hate crime because she was a transgender woman.

The only thing that could come to mind is that he's politically pandering to the far right, which has been demanding that he make a statement, ... I'd like to take her at her word that he only considers the policy implications, which means there's no need to make such a hurried decision.

He knows (AB849) would immediately draw a legal challenge, ... If he thinks it belongs in the court, this option will get it there.

I am seriously looking at alternative proposals to the Runners' that we could move legislatively, ... We're looking at best practices in other states, (to include in) what we come up with.

He cannot veto the bill until it gets to his desk, ... It may not get there for a couple more weeks and in that time period, we're doing everything we can to communicate with him.

My opinion is that anyone repeatedly driving DUI has an illness, and that illness is called alcoholism, ... Now, you've got someone with a disease, and you take away their license, and you have someone with an alcohol addiction with no license getting behind the wheel of a car. That's an additional crime, so you'll have someone going to jail. ? Now you've broken up the family and taken away the breadwinner.

Margita Thompson has said all kinds of things in the past that have proven not to be true, ... I will continue to make my request to meet with the governor and explain why there are millions of people who are suffering under the inequality of the current law and who need this bill to be signed.

I think there's a better way to approach many of these issues,

We know this makes it very difficult for these members to vote against us ? this is the kind of pressure, the kind of support that will get us across the finish line,

We're an American Legion post, so we're emphasizing the red, white and blue. But we're also using lavender and silver balloons to acknowledge our connection with the community.

Today represents another milestone toward the fulfillment of the American dream for thousands of lesbian and gay couples in California, ... Society is strongest when it upholds the basic civil rights of all its citizens, including the right to marry the person you love.

The only reason that he could be doing this is that he is pandering to the far right,

When you set aside all the emotion and hyperbole and drama surrounding this bill, it comes down to simple question. Are we or are we not all first-class citizens?

We have a small chance of changing his mind,

We're looking for three votes, and I can't tell you today who the three will be, but I think the power of the success coming from the floor of the Senate today will give us the necessary momentum and encouragement to do what we all know is the right thing to do.

Do what we know is in our hearts, ... Make sure all California families will have the same protection under the law.

It would be highly unusual and a direct insult to the proponents of this bill and the many millions of Californian families who want him to sign it.

It would be disrespectful to the millions of Californians who support this bill not to hear the arguments of its supporters, ... This is not just another bill.

The governor has failed his test of leadership and missed a historic opportunity to stand up for the basic civil rights of all Californians, ... He cannot claim to support fair and equal treatment for same-sex couples and veto the very bill that would have provided it to them.

Our current laws tell peaceful, law-abiding, tax-paying, native-born citizens, you and your partner must either split up or leave the country, ... This is nonsense and it's completely mean spirited.

Allowing same-sex couples to access one another's health care plans, make joint medical decisions, inherit one another's property, file joint tax returns, and provide for their children without fear of them falling into foster care should one partner pass away is not only humane but fiscally prudent,

The issue doesn't go away, ... Support will only increase. The more the public hears about same-sex marriage, the more the public supports it.

It's unfortunate for the Republicans to say if we don't see it their way, we're soft on crime or support the criminals, which is not the case. Many of these bills would appear to make sense, but you have to understand the unintended consequences.

They are considered no different than married couples with regards to responsibility for children,

It's a significant accomplishment. It was a thing of beauty,

It's a significant day. It's a historic occasion,

I couldn't do anything but keep going. It says something for being a little bit tenacious,

The Legislature has done the hard work of picking up the issue of the day, holding public hearings, having public debate and making a decision, ... (A veto) would be an enormous disregard for the deliberation of both houses and the millions of people who wish him to sign the bill.