California Legislature Approves Gay Marriage

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9234556/

However, supposedly Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may veto the legislation because he believes the issue should be left to "the voters or the courts".

WTF??? Aren't conservatives always complaining about the courts usurping the legislature's powers?? Seems that they're "flexible" on this point when the legislators of a state do something they don't approve of. Whether states are allowed under the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment and similiar clauses in State Constitutions to treat gay couples differently from straight ones vis-a-vis marriage is a legitimate issue for the courts, but surely the California State legislature has the power to say they shall be treated the same. Where's that ideological consistency, right wingers??

How does it work? I thought the legislature passed legislation, which is tested by the courts if necessary. What is the Governor's role in all this?

Hey - you guys are finally starting to catch up to Canada (... and Holland, of course!).

Imagine the possibilities! Pretty soon it'll be: "Just Say No To Heterosexuality!"

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
How does it work? I thought the legislature passed legislation, which is tested by the courts if necessary. What is the Governor's role in all this?

Originally posted by widget
Hey - you guys are finally starting to catch up to Canada (... and Holland, of course!).

Imagine the possibilities! Pretty soon it'll be: "Just Say No To Heterosexuality!"

Originally posted by no1marauder
It is, of course, within the Governor's powers to veto, but I was questioning his expressed rationale, not his legal power.

Originally posted by Bosse de Nage
OK--say he vetoes it--how would the voters or the courts change things?

Originally posted by rwingett
The voters would have to rise up, drag Arnold through the streets and burn him at the stake, all the while chanting in a faux German accent, "You von't be bahk!"

Originally posted by no1marauder
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9234556/

However, supposedly Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger may veto the legislation because he believes the issue should be left to "the voters or the courts".

WTF??? Aren't conservatives always complaining about the courts usurping the legislature's powers?? Seems that they're "flexible" ...[text shortened]... er to say they shall be treated the same. Where's that ideological consistency, right wingers??

I thought that Californians had voted to allow gay marriage but had been shot down by the feds like everyone else.

Originally posted by sasquatch672
I'm still lost on how a legislature can make laws governing who can marry whom. Insofar as a legislature is a duly elected body, they have powers. It boils down to one group of people telling another group of people what they can and can't do. That's tyranny.

Originally posted by sasquatch672
I'm still lost on how a legislature can make laws governing who can marry whom. Insofar as a legislature is a duly elected body, they have powers. It boils down to one group of people telling another group of people what they can and can't do. That's tyranny.

San Francisco tried an endrun around State law a little over a year ago. Several gay couples were "married" in The City (that's what they call themselves .. "The City"😉
Then the California Supreme Court nullified them all (nearly 4000), ruling that the city did not have the authority to take such action in defiance of State law.
Not accepting failure, same-sex marrige supporters (ie: Democrat Party) now use the California Legislature (dominated by Democrats) to try again.
They will fail .. again (veto by the Guvenator) .. and again if the vote is ever put to the populus via Proposition.
We're not Holland. We're not Canada, and we're definately not Spain

This is another example of how far out of touch the Democrat Party is with mainstream America.