Will Ahnold sign same-sex marriage bill for California?

A week or so ago, the California legislature passed a same-sex marriage bill for the second time in three years.

The bill seeks to make California the second state to legalize same-sex marriage, after Massachusetts, where same-sex marriage became legal in 2004. Since then, some 8,000 couples have been married by the state.

Elsewhere, Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, South Africa and Spain offer full marriage rights to gays and lesbians [...]

Leno's latest attempt was approved in the state Senate by a 22-15 vote, with Republicans voting unanimously against it. The governor has about a month to veto or sign it into law.

Three months ago, the Assembly passed the bill 42-34. These aren't exactly close votes, but Schwarzenegger is expected to veto the bill as he did two years ago.

If Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger goes through with his expected veto of San Francisco Assemblyman Mark Leno's measure to allow same-sex marriage in California, it's almost guaranteed the governor will say he's following "the will of the people."

That's the argument the Republican governor made two years ago when he rejected a similar measure. Although Schwarzenegger hasn't taken an official position on the new bill, he made clear in February that he did not intend to sign it.

"I don't want, as the governor, to go against the will of the people," Schwarzenegger said at an event put on by the YMCA, but added: "If it goes back on the ballot, the people can make the decision."

The Legislature approved the bill Sept. 7, and the governor has until Oct. 14 to sign or veto the measure.
Foes of same-sex marriage argue, along with Schwarzenegger, that California voters made their decision in March 2000, when Proposition 22, the protection of marriage initiative, was approved by a landslide 61 to 39 percent. The 14-word measure, which conservative and religious groups placed on the ballot, said simply, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

But times have changed in seven years, say supporters of Leno's bill, and voters now have elected a solid majority of legislators who want to make same-sex marriage legal in California.

The California Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Constitutionality of same-sex marriage in the state.

Even if Schwarzenegger follows through and vetoes Leno's same-sex marriage bill, the assemblyman could get his wish if the state Supreme Court comes out in favor of same-sex marriage next year, when it reaches a decision on the legality of San Francisco's 2004 effort to allow same-sex marriages in the city.

Last year, a California appeals court looking at the same case seemed to suggest that it was the Legislature's responsibility to determine marriage law.

Anti-gay bigots are vowing to go back to the ballot box to overturn any legislative or court decision in favor of equal rights.