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REPORT: Iowa Senate Democrats to Unite Against Marriage Amendment

On Tuesday, the Iowa House of Representatives passed Joint Resolution 6, a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban any form of relationship recognition for same-sex couples, by an overwhelming 62 to 37 vote. The bill now moves to the Iowa Senate, where Democrats have a narrow 26-24 edge and Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has vowed to fight attempts to pass the amendment.

The entire Democratic caucus—even opponents of marriage equality—will support Gronstal and oppose the amendment, reports the Des Moines Register.

At least two Democratic senators said Tuesday that if a same-sex marriage constitutional amendment ever were to come to a vote of the full chamber, they'd likely vote "yes" - enough for a majority. They are Tom Hancock of Epworth and Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg, the Senate president.

Both back marriage between one man and one woman. They see allowing Iowans to vote on same-sex marriage as casting an individual vote of conscience. But they won't usurp the authority of Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.

Senators of both parties agreed in interviews Tuesday that the sole authority to call such legislation for a vote lies with Gronstal, who said he won't budge on his refusal to do so. Republican senators said Tuesday their next step is to circulate a petition that would push the Senate version of a marriage resolution onto the calendar of bills eligible for a vote by the full Senate.

Two of the Democratic senators who signed a similar petition last year, Hancock and Joe Seng of Davenport, said Tuesday they're holding the possibility open to signing it again this year — which could give the petition the 26 votes necessary for a majority in the 50-member Senate. Republicans would consider that a major symbolic victory, but even that would not force Gronstal to allow a vote.

If passed through both legislative bodies in two consecutive General Assemblies, the issue could be on the ballot as soon as 2013. Let's pray the Iowa Senate Democratic caucus sticks together to defeat this, we really need a win here ...

Marriage equality has been legal since a 7-0 Iowa Supreme Court ruling in April 2009. In a separate move, Republican legislators are attempting to impeach the four remaining Iowa Supreme Court justices who issued the landmark ruling.

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Iowa House Votes 62-37 to Ban Gay Marriage and Civil Unions

A setback in the heartland. By a 62-37 vote, the Iowa House of Representatives has passed Joint Resolution 6, a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage, civil unions or any form of relationship recognition for same-sex couples, reports One Iowa.

The bill now moves on to the Iowa Senate, where Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal has vowed to fight attempts to pass the amendment. If passed through both legislative bodies in two consecutive General Assemblies, the issue could be on the ballot as soon as 2013.

"The proposed amendment devalues families and divides Iowans," said One Iowa Executive Director Carolyn Jenison. "The Constitution is meant to protect the freedoms and liberties of all Iowans. It is inappropriate to use the political process to single out and deny a group of Iowans of their constitutional protections."

Democrats have a narrow 26-24 edge in the Senate. 

Marriage equality has been legal since a 7-0 Iowa Supreme Court ruling in April 2009. In a separate move, Republican legislators are attempting to impeach the four remaining Iowa Supreme Court justices who issued the landmark ruling.

Iowa Governor Culver Will Not Support Marriage Amendment

This is very promising news. Iowa's Democratic Gov. Chet Culver ends several days of silence on the Iowa Supreme Court's historic decision that allows same-sex marriage. Culver says he disagrees with the ruling but is "reluctant to support" amending the state Constitution to reverse the Court's decision.

The Democratic governor based his position in part on the court's statement that denial of the right to marry for same-sex couples constitutes discrimination.

"The court also concluded that the denial of this right constitutes discrimination. Therefore, after careful consideration and a thorough reading of the court’s decision, I am reluctant to support amending the Iowa Constitution to add a provision that our Supreme Court has said is unlawful and discriminatory," he said.

Culver's statement notes his personal belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman. He also said, however, that the court's decision reaffirmed churches' role to conduct their own religious marriages. He distinguished between a religious marriage and a civil marriage.

"As the Supreme Court's decision states, 'The sanctity of all religious marriages celebrated in the future will have the same meaning as those celebrated in the past,' " Culver said.

There are few options left for the anti-gay Republicans and the conservatives seeking to amend Iowa's constitution. House Speaker Pat Murphy (D-Dubuque) and Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) emphatically say they will resist all attempts to amend the state’s Constitution.

Let's hear it for Iowa.