Source: Seattle Times, Seattle Gay News, Seattle Post Intelligencer
In an interview with the Seattle Times last week, the Republican candidate for governor said he would veto a bill authorizing marriage equality in the state.
Asked directly if he would veto a bill if passed, Dino Rossi said, "Yes. They can go to the people if they like and convince the people it's a good idea."
For a story published Friday Seattle Gay News writer Mike Andrew asked Rossi campaign spokeswoman Jill Strait if the Times report was correct.
"Yes, he would veto a marriage bill," Strait said. "People can pass an initiative if they disagree."
Strait explained, "He takes a traditional view of marriage. One man and one woman," but argued that incumbent incumbent governor, Democrat Chris Gregoire, "doesn't support [same-sex] marriage, either."
In her response about the issue in the Seattle Times interview, Gregoire -- who has signed two domestic partnership bills that give some rights of marriage to lesbian/gay couples -- was unwilling to commit.
"There could be an attempt this session to push through a bill on gay marriage. Would you oppose it?" the Times asked.
"I can't answer that," Gregiore responded. "I respect the institution. I will hear them out.... I want to hear the debate in the Legislature."
In an analysis last month, Seattle Post Intelligencer capitol correspondent Chris McGann pointed out that Rossi opposes -- with a few caveats – abortion, gay marriage, gun control, government funding of embryonic stem cell research, and the further expansion of gay rights, but he rarely mentions the issues in his speeches, campaign Web site, or TV ads.
When pressed, Rossi frequently prefaces his answers about social issues with, "I'm not running on this issue," though in most cases he states his position, the PI reports.
"Though he tries to hide it, Republican Dino Rossi espouses an extreme social agenda that seeks to impose his own personal religious beliefs on Washingtonians," a spokesman for the state Democrats told the Seattle PI last month about Rossi's reluctance to discuss social issues.
Strait told the PI that the charge is unfair. She said Rossi "is in no way trying to hide his personal beliefs."
"He's been very open about the fact that he is Catholic and believes that every soul has a value, but that's not part of his agenda. He's going to talk about what he actually wants to do," Strait told the PI.
The Times asked Rossi far more questions about the domestic partnerships, including several on the current domestic partnership law that offers a handful of marriage-like rights to gay couples.
He often responded with the "not running on the issue" boilerplate.
Rossi said he isn't aware of which rights and responsibilities are offered by the current domestic partnership law, but indicated he would be uncomfortable with further expansion of the partnership law. "I don't know what else is left besides marriage," he said.
Rossi spokeswoman Strait clarified for SGN, saying Rossi "wouldn't overturn current law. He's concerned about one specific provision of the current law."
Asked by SGN if Rossi would oppose additional rights being added for same-sex couples, Strait said, "Well, what more is there? Supporting or opposing domestic partnerships or civil unions is not part of his agenda. He would look at future legislation on a case by case basis."
The "one specific provision of current law" that Rossi said he's uncomfortable with is a provision that allows a registered domestic partner to have the same rights as a spouse in case a partner dies without a will. "That's a problem," Rossi said about the provision. "That's a huge problem. That's a problem legally, with the transfer of assets."
Rossi indicated in the Times interview that he does not understand the process of registering a domestic partnership with the secretary of state's office, and indicated he'd be willing to sign a bill that strips away the provision about wills.
"I think a red flag -- it looked like there was the ability for someone to gain control of someone's assets without a will. That would concern me. It seems like a trial lawyer's dream. By me claiming we had a relationship, you pass away and I can come in and say you promised me and you promised me that. I think that's a problem."
On other issues of interest to the LGBT community, Rossi favors allowing individual school districts to decide if they want to offer so-called "abstinence-only" sex education.
He also says local school districts should decide "whether or not to teach creationism along with evolution."
Gregoire opposes abstinence-only education, and insists "I want science-based education in our schools."
This is the portion of the transcript of Seattle Times interview with Rossi that deals with domestic partnerships and marriage equality.
Q. If there is a push for gay marriage this coming session, what would you do? Would you actively oppose such an effort?
A. "I have not been supportive of that issue. I'm not running on that issue either."
Q. Yes, but it is a bill that could land on your desk.
A. "I won't support it. I've been very clear. I believe the traditional view of marriage is between one man and one woman.
Q. So would you veto a bill if it passed?
A. "Yes. They can go to the people if they like and convince the people it's a good idea."
Q. What about extending the rights of gay couples?
A. "To what?"
Q. In the past they've advocated having the equivalent of marriage.
A. "I think that's already happened. So what else there?"
Q. It's my understanding that there's quite a list, but I can't name them for you.
A. "Well, I can't name them for you either, so I'm not going to tell you what I'll veto or what I'll not veto."
Q. OK, but just on premise of it would you oppose extending rights for gay couples?
A. "Clearly we are a compassionate state. The bottom line here is people should be able to care for their loved ones. And that is something I was consistent about saying. But when it comes to the tradition of marriage, I believe that's reserved for one man and one woman.
"I don't think my opponent has answered that question."
Q. What if a ballot measure comes about for gay marriage and is approved, would you live with that?
A. "Yeah. If passed by the people there isn't a lot I could do about that. Any changes would have to be passed by a legislative body before it would come to me.
"It's nothing I'm spending a lot of time on. It's one of those things where my focus is going to be balancing the budget and expanding some of the roads and the rest."
Q. But you know, having served in the Legislature, that these things have a tendency to pop up.
A. "Every once in awhile they pop up and they usually go nowhere.
"I don't know what else is left besides marriage."
Q. I know there are folks who would like to turn the clock back in terms of what's been passed in the past couple of sessions. If there were an effort to eliminate some of the new rights that have been extended to gay couples and that bill hit your desk, what would you do?
A. "That depends on what it is. I'd have to look at it and see if it's reasonable and rational. If it's in the bounds of caring and comforting a loved one, then I think it's fine.
"I think a red flag -- it looked like there was the ability for someone to gain control of someone's assets without a will. That would concern me. It seems like a trial lawyer's dream. By me claiming we had a relationship, you pass away and I can come in and say you promised me and you promised me that. I think that's a problem."
Q. The idea, I believe, is that if there's a traditionally married couple and the husband dies without a will, the wife gets the assets. They're applying the same logic to gay couples.
A. "Well, that's why you have wills. That's a problem. That's a huge problem. That's a problem legally, with the transfer of assets."
Q. But things like hospital visits?
A. "That's care and comfort of a loved one."
Source: Transcript of interviews with Gregoire, Rossi on social issues| Seattle Times
Dino Rossi stands by anti-Gay remarks (or does he?) | Seattle Gay News
Rossi on right? It's not that easy | Seattle Post Intelligencer