Assembly kills resolution honoring Boy Scouts

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The Assembly is often divided on many of the big issues of the day -- taxes, gay marriage, the Boy Scouts... That’s right, the Boy Scouts of America got caught in the political crossfire Tuesday when a proposed resolution honoring the group was killed in the Assembly Judiciary Committee at the behest of Democrats. The measure died on a party-line vote, with the commitee’s three Republicans voting in support and seven Democrats voting against the measure. Committee chairman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) led the opposition to the measure, citing the Scouts’ history of not allowing gays to serve in their leadership.

The measure honoring the group was authored by Assembly Republican Leader Martin Garrick (R-Solana Beach) and presented in committee by Assemblyman Curt Hagman (R-Chino Hills), a former Eagle Scout. Hagman called the uproar over the resolution ‘kind of crazy. With all the resolutions we do here, they’re not all perfect. If you don’t support it, just [don’t vote for] it , but to oppose the Boys Scouts on their birthday seems silly.’

This is not the first time a resolution honoring the Scouts has died a partisan death. As analysis prepared by the judiciary committee states, ‘As with similar resolutions introduced in the past, the resolution raises once again the sincere and troubling concerns expressed historically by many members of this Committee and a host of groups and individuals committed to equality and nondiscrimination, because the proposed resolution seeks to put the California Legislature on record commemorating an organization that has long discriminated against individuals because of their sexual orientation or religious views.’

--Anthony York