Iowa GOP Proposes Same-Sex Marriage Ban on 2013 Ballot

[47of74]

Source: KCRG

DES MOINES, Iowa – Fifty-seven Republicans legislators – 56 in the House and one senator – are proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage.

Although the language is not identical, the two resolutions call for amending the Iowa Constitution to giving voters the opportunity to essentially reverse the 2009 Iowa Supreme Court decision striking down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

House Judiciary Committee chairman Rich Anderson, R-Clarinda, expects the bill to win committee approval next week and proceed to the House floor as soon as it is eligible.

“I don’t think we’ll dawdle,” House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said, noting Republicans consistently have said they would approve a resolution to put the issue on the ballot.

Read more: http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Iowa-GOP-Proposes-Same-Sex-Marriage-Ban-on-2013-Ballot-114248754.html

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:puke:

Hell, that didn't take long. At least the Democrats still control the Senate so this probably won't go anywhere for a while.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. 2013... No ban is not funny

But there are no elections in 2013

[Drunken Irishman]

2. Well I guess 2013 is better than 2012...

[47of74]

3. As I understand the amendment process

This is what the Iowa Constitution says about the amendment process;

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.

So as I understand the amendment process that 2013 is the soonest it could reach the voters if the 2011-13 General Assembly was to approve the amendment and the 2013-15 General Assembly confirmed that approval in 2013.

But that's not likely to happen in this General Assembly with the Democrats still holding the Senate. So probably the soonest it could happen is after 2015 and hopefully Iowans will have had their fill of Republicans and their bull manure long before then.

[HankyDubs]

4. but Ken Mehlman

and the log cabin boys told me that republicans love gay people. Don't tell me Ken was lying!

[47of74]

5. What do you think?

The guy's mouth was moving, after all.