Iowa House Approves Amendment to Ban Same-sex Marriage
Following a debate on one of this year’s most controversial bills, the state House approved the proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage by a 54 to 44 vote.
A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage won approval by the Iowa state House on Tuesday.
The proposed amendment, defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman, was passed by a House Committee on March 3. Debate in the full House began on Tuesday morning, and the bill was approved by a 54 to 44 vote.
The amendment will now go to the Senate, where it faces a greater challenge. A similar bill was rejected by a Republican-dominated Senate last year. This year, the Senate is split 25 to 25.
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After the passage of the amendment by the House Committee, Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson stated that the amendment is doomed to failure, with little chance of passing in the Senate.
“We have a number of members who feel it’s not necessary, so I would give it a very, very slim chance,” said Iverson. “It’s very unlikely it would make it through the Senate.”
Senate Republican Co-President Jeff Lamberti stated, “I’d be surprised if we could even get agreement to bring it up in committee. I don’t see any willingness on the part of Senate Democrats to debate it.”
Opponents argue that the amendment is discriminatory and violates the rights of gay and lesbian citizens. Some deem the amendment unnecessary, because Iowa already has a law banning same-sex marriage.
However, supporters assert that a constitutional amendment is necessary to protect the sanctity of marriage. They point to events happening in other states, such as Massachusetts and, most recently, California, where activist judges are declaring that laws banning same-sex marriage are unconstitutional.
Groups advocating the bill announced last week that they will take action against legislators who vote against the bill by making sure that they are not re-elected to office.
The amendment must be approved by two consecutive General Assemblies before it can be placed on the 2008 ballot for a statewide vote. If rejected this year, the amendment must be reintroduced in the General Assembly, for a chance to enter the 2010 general election.
