Some interesting voting patterns emerged Thursday, as San Joaquin Valley lawmakers opposed a San Francisco Bay Area water recycling bill. Interesting, that is, if you are thrilled by a "Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair."

That ugly-sounding parliamentary maneuver was, in fact, one of several opportunities Valley members had to voice off against the Bay Area water bill. Or, rather, the unwillingness of the House to include provisions targeting the San Joaquin Valley as well.

Reps. Dennis Cardoza of Merced and Jim Costa of Fresno were among only eight House Democrats to join House Republicans on the "Motion to Table the etc. etc." They were also among only 23 House Democrats to side with Republicans in opposing the "Rule" which governed debate on the water bill. And they were among only 10 House Democrats to vote against the final bill itself.

Taken together, the three votes --- two of them acutely technical, and one substantive -- conveyed the local unhappiness over current water delivery conditions. The meaningful question now becomes: will the protest votes bring any downstream benefits?