Posted on 04/03/2009 7:21:17 AM PDT by rface
State Reps. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull, and Dolores Mertz, D-Ottosen, have proposed a bill to amend Iowa’s Constitution and define marriage as being between a man and a woman.
House Joint Resolution 6 was introduced Friday as funnel week was coming to a close. It has little chance of coming up for debate this session. It was introduced, Alons said, in response to Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, introducing a bill making Iowa’s marriage laws gender neutral by removing the words “husband” and “wife” and replacing them with “spouse.”
All this takes place in the shadow of Varnum v. Brien, a lawsuit brought on behalf of six same-sex couples who are seeking the right to marry in Iowa. It is currently under consideration by the Iowa Supreme Court after oral arguments Dec. 9. The outcome will ultimately decide the constitutionality of Iowa’s Defense of Marriage Act.
Alons, who represents an overwhelmingly conservative district in northwest Iowa, has long been an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage, even joining in a lawsuit in 2000 against then-Gov. Tom Vilsack alleging the governor exceeded his authority by signing an executive order to protect gay state workers from job discrimination. Then, in 2008, he opposed a bill that would extend that protection to the areas of employment, housing, education, public accommodations and credit practices, telling the Sioux City Journal that it was inappropriate to grant these rights to “people that make choices in life that other people feel are inappropriate.”
Also last year, Alons proposed a bill making people who want to apply for marriage licenses to meet residency requirements. The bill, which did not pass, was Alons’ attempt to stop homosexual couples from around the United States from coming to Iowa, getting married and returning to their own state to sue to get the union recognized, should the Supreme Court invalidate Iowa’s marriage laws.
Mertz joined with Republicans in 2008 to vote against the bill extending civil rights protections to gays and lesbians. She also has said several times that she opposes changing Iowa’s marriage laws to allow same-sex couples the right to be married.
Introduced, referred to Iowa State Government. H.J. 796.
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Today the Iowa Courts declared that gay Marriage is Legal under Iowa Law......Now a Constitutional Amendment is needed. I guess it is in th e works. I don't know all the machinary needed to get it done ---- so this is what I know......
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ARTICLE X.
AMENDMENTS TO THE Iowa CONSTITUTION.
How proposed--submission. SECTION 1. Any amendment or amendments to this constitution may be proposed in either house of the general assembly; and if the same shall be agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses, such proposed amendment shall be entered on their journals, with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the legislature to be chosen at the next general election, and shall be published, as provided by law, for three months previous to the time of making such choice; and if, in the general assembly so next chosen as aforesaid, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to, by a majority of all the members elected to each house, then it shall be the duty of the general assembly to submit such proposed amendment or amendments to the people, in such manner, and at such time as the general assembly shall provide; and if the people shall approve and ratify such amendment or amendments, by a majority of the electors qualified to vote for members of the general assembly, voting thereon, such amendment or amendments shall become a part of the constitution of this state.
If that goes through, can I marry my dog?
“If that goes through, can I marry my dog?”
Only if in a committed relationship.
Being married to one dog already and getting rid of her, I don’t think I will try it again.
I’m waiting for the “brother marrying a brother” scenario.
What will “the courts” have to say about that?
Of course not. Everyone knows there's no way to determine a dog's true wishes. Dogs have rights, ya know.
But, if you want to marry your mother, father or, say, any two or ten consenting adults of any gender, go for it.
Seems it’s gonna have to take Amendments. Simple initiatives and/or legislative bills won’t pass muster, especially with liberal courts.
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