SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a widely expected move vetoed a bill on Thursday that would have allowed gay couples to marry.
The Republican governor had earlier this month indicated he would veto the bill passed by California's Democrat-led legislature. The bill was the first of its kind approved by a state legislature.
Schwarzenegger said he would leave the contentious issue of same-sex marriage to voters and the courts. "I do not believe the legislature can reverse an initiative approved by the people of California," he said in a written statement.
"This bill simply adds confusion to a constitutional issue," Schwarzenegger wrote. "If the ban of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, this bill is not necessary. If the ban is constitutional, this bill is ineffective."
Exactly, though the larger issue here is not whether or not the bill is necessary or effective but rather the fact that California's elected legislators attempted to pass a law that was clearly in direct conflict with the interests of their constituents. Just five years ago the people of California voted on this specific issue and chose then to define marriage in that state as being between one man and one woman. Something they have every right to do in accordance with the laws of California, a sovereign state within the Union.
I'm not familiar with the laws of California and can only assume that what these legislators tried to do was technically legal, but from an ethical point of view it is a borderline act of tyranny for these arrogant legislators to try and overturn the referendum.
Let us hope the people of California remember this episode when the time comes again for them to elect their legislators.