The California Legislature, in defiance of a popularly enacted prohibition on same sex marriage just five years ago, has decided a solid majority of California voters can pound sand.

I don't know that yesterday's vote will result in a backlash against Democrats in the next election cycle, what with the gerrymandered districts which guarantee that neither party's seats are endangered in any general election. However, if anything could do it, this could. Voters passed Prop. 22 in 2000 with more than 61 percent of the vote.

It's also unclear if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will sign the bill.

"The governor believes the courts are the correct venue for this decision to be made. He will uphold whatever decision the court renders," Schwarzenegger press secretary Margita Thompson said in a statement.

Ummm...wrong answer. The courts are not the correct venue, the legislature is -- but not when it votes counter to a popularly passed initiative. In fact, it's very possible that the legislature's actions are illegal.

Even in a state as liberal as California, I don't believe this is going to stand. It might take another initiative to bring the legislature to heel. But, if Schwarzenegger has the guts to veto the bill, it might just give a boost to his sagging poll ratings.