Posted on 04/11/2009 5:29:20 AM PDT by reaganaut1
Opponents of the Iowa Supreme Court ruling last week allowing same-sex marriages said Friday that they would step up pressure on state lawmakers to block the marriages through a constitutional amendment and predicted political fallout for Democratic state leaders, including Gov. Chet Culver, if they did not join the opposition.
“This isn’t over, not even for this year,” said Bryan English, a spokesman for the Iowa Family Policy Center, which encouraged hundreds of opponents of same-sex marriages to meet and pray outside the State Capitol in Des Moines this week, and plans a similar rally next week. “Everyday folks who get up and go to work were shocked at what happened here, and it’s really gotten people activated.”
Since the court ruled unanimously on April 3 that an Iowa law banning the marriages was unconstitutional, opponents have been searching for a way to begin the process of amending the state’s Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
Because, under Iowa law, that process would take two legislative sessions, however, even opponents acknowledge that nothing now seems likely to prevent Iowa from beginning to allow such marriages on April 27 after the ruling becomes final.
Still, inside the Capitol on Thursday, where supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage packed the gallery, Republican representatives twice tried to bring up a constitutional amendment on marriage. Democrats, who control both chambers, cited violations of House procedures in blocking the efforts.
State Representative Christopher C. Rants, a Republican who proposed amending a state health and human services budget bill with the constitutional provision, said he was pleased, at least, that his fellow representatives were forced to take a vote on whether to allow the debate. The idea was rejected 54 to 44, largely along party lines.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
It is sad, but the only way to stop judicial tyranny is by Constitutional amendment.
Good, it’s about time.
same-sex marriages is just another progressive action and we all know how past progressive actions have turned out obama comes to mind not a good thing.
Step 2: Impeachment of judges.
The simple question to ask when a judge says “equal protection means gay marriage” is whether the people who wrote that clause had any thought of this result. If the answer is NO, which of course it is, then these judges should be impeached.
I hope Iowa becomes a Mecca for gay marriage as homosexuals from all over the nation flock there to get married.
That'll teach these corn bread dimwits that electing Democrats means something.
Didn't Iowa go for Obama? What a disgrace.
I imagine it’s just like Massachusetts.The people there are overwhelmingly against gay “marriage”,(it would be voted off the books if we ever got it on the ballot...which our politicians won’t allow),but they have it so ingrained in their minds that “democrats are for the working man”,and “Republicans hate unions” that they can’t be convinced,(in spite of a lifetime of experience,which they refuse to learn from),to vote for anyone unless they have that “D” by their name.
The Iowa GOP, like every other GOP organization, would screw up a two car funeral.
I totally agree...I just wish one Republican would flip a middle finger at these rulings.
I agree. I was born and raised in western Iowa. Used to be a solid conservative state. Glad I'm gone from there!
In Iowa, judges run for reelection. Three of these judges are up for election in 2010 and all three need to lose their jobs.
[Governor Chester] Culver, who says he personally believes marriage should be between a man and a woman, said he was unlikely to support a constitutional amendment. “After careful consideration and a thorough reading of the court’s decision,” he said, “I am reluctant to support amending the Iowa Constitution to add a provision that our Supreme Court has said is unlawful and discriminatory.”
The statement was seen by some as a shift. In 2008, Mr. Culver told reporters that he would wait for the courts to rule on same-sex marriage in Iowa but that lawmakers could then react quickly.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to protect marriage between a man and a woman,” he said[in 2008], according to local news reports.
All 44 Republicans present voted for marriage. One Republican, Royd Chambers, is on active duty with the National Guard in Afghanistan and another was at a funeral. Only 2 of the 56 Democrats voted for marriage, Geri Huser and Dolores Mertz.
“All 44 Republicans present voted for marriage” should read all 42 Republicans present plus 2 Dems voted for marriage.
http://digg.com/politics/AntinGay_Marriage_Ad_Sparks_YouTube_Revolt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.