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Crist opposes GOP funding for gay ban

The Florida Republican Party shouldn't continue financially supporting an effort to put a gay marriage ban into the state constitution, the governor said.

By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published February 13, 2007

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Charlie Crist does not want any more Republican Party money spent to advance a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Florida, and on Tuesday he dodged the issue of whether people should be able to vote on it.

“I just think that their money can be better spent on other things that may be more pressing, like elections,” Crist said. “The people care about issues like insurance premiums. They care like property taxes. They care about public safety.”

By distancing himself from the same sex marriage issue, Crist has again shown a preference for pragmatism over ideology, and a lack of enthusiasm for wedge issues. But he also risks alienating social conservatives in his party -- many of whom backed his opponent in last year’s Republican primary for governor.

“He’s certainly allowed to express his opinion,” said John Stemberger, an Orlando lawyer and chairman of the effort to put a same sex marriage ban in Florida’s Constitution. “I cannot imagine that he would reverse his position as a strong supporter of this effort. It’s good policy for him, it’s good politics, and it’s a historical thing that’s going to happen. It needs to happen.”

As for Crist’s opposition to party support for the amendment, Stemberger said: “I think he should re-evaluate his position.”

To date, the Florida Coalition to Protect Marriage, a political committee, received $300,000 last year from the Republican Party of Florida, more than half of the marriage group’s reported total.

Jim Greer, Crist’s handpicked choice to be chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, said he has not yet decided whether to contribute any more party money to the effort.

Florida has a state law banning same sex marriage, but supporters want it embedded in the Constitution.

Backers of what is called “the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment” are close to collecting the 611,000 signatures they need to get the proposal on the November 2008 presidential election ballot, subject to approval by the Florida Supreme Court.

The issue is considered vital to Republican efforts in mobilizing social conservatives.

The campaign’s spokesperson is Laura Gallagher, the wife of Tom Gallagher, the candidate Crist vanquished in last year’s Republican primary.

Supporters already faced one new hurdle: a requirement that ballot initiatives in Florida must get approval of at least 60 percent of voters.

Now they face resistance from a popular new governor who has sought to cast himself as a non-ideological problem solver tackling issues such as insurance, taxes and crime.

“I’m convinced those are the kinds of issues that the people of Florida want us to focus on that are in government, and I think it would be appropriate for the party to do the same, and I believe they will,” Crist said.

Asked if people should have a chance to vote on the same sex marriage issue, Crist said: “We only have so much time. And we have to prioritize what we put our energy into.”

Asked if there’s a “downside” to his party being identified as opposing gay marriage, Crist again dodged the question.

“I see an upside to fight for lower insurance premiums,” Crist said.

Crist is listed as an endorser of the amendment on the web site, www.florida4marriage.org.

While running for governor last year, Crist signed a petition in support of the same sex marriage ban.

In a Republican primary marked by rival Tom Gallagher’s overt appeals on issues such as abortion and gay marriage, Crist ran TV ads touting his work as attorney general in “defending traditional marriage.”

But after Crist trounced Gallagher by a 2-to-1 margin, social issues virtually vanished from the political dialogue, and gave way to issues Crist considers far more important, such as insurance and taxes.

Times staff writer Jennifer Liberto contributed to this report. Steve Bousquet can be reached at bousquet@sptimes.com or (850) 224-7263.

[Last modified February 13, 2007, 16:31:13]