It looks like any effort to repeal last week’s Iowa Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage will face tremendous difficulty in the legislature:
DES MOINES, Iowa – A key lawmaker Monday ruled out any move to overturn an Iowa Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage, even as backers of that effort promised to step up pressure on the Legislature.
Meeting with reporters, Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, was clear about proposals to begin the process of amending Iowa’s constitution to overturn the decision.
“It will not come up,” said Gronstal. “I have no intention of taking it up.”
House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, has issued a statement praising Friday’s decision, but House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said he wanted to talk to fellow Democrats before announcing his intentions.
“I haven’t talked to my caucus,” said McCarthy, D-Des Moines.
(…)
with Democrats firmly in control of both legislative chambers and leaders like Gronstal opposing the effort, there appeared to be few options for gay marriage opponents.
“We’re considering some options,” said Alons. “That’s a very important issue for the next election.”
One option for gay marriage opponents seeking to amend the state’s constitution is to push for a constitutional convention. Every 10 years voters are asked in the general election ballot if they want to hold a constituitonal convention.
If voters decide in 2010 they want one, it could be held the following year.
Here’s the speech that Senator Gronstal made announcing his opposition to any repeal measure:
At the very least, it appears that gay marriage will be the law in Iowa for many years before a repeal measure can even be considered. Given that, it seems unlikely that the Court’s decision will be overturned.
H/T: Justin @ Donklephant
