Iowa Senate Republicans Fail To Force Vote On Same Sex Marriage Amendment; Conservative Organization Family Leader Says It Has Only Begun To Fight And That “Tradition Of Marriage Created By God Trumps Traditions Of Iowa Senate”

Thursday, a Republican effort to suspend Iowa Senate rules and force debate on a proposed constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage failed on a party-line vote, the Associated Press reporting that Republican Senator Kent Sorenson (Indianola) asked to suspend the rules to consider the constitutional amendment after Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal called for a vote on a resolution. Sorenson’s request failed on a 26-24 vote. Senators soon after approved Gronstal’s resolution (again on a party-lines) adjusting the Senate rules to make it more difficult to force a similar vote in the future. Gronstal says that the new rules simply codify longstanding Senate tradition, but Republicans contend that it is an attempt to prevent debate on controversial social issues, like same sex marriage. A newly formed anti-gay conservative group, Family Leader, says it has only begun to fight for a vote of the people of Iowa on same sex marriage, a written statement by Chuck Hurley and Danny Carroll reading in part “We can only interpret the action by the Senate Democrats this morning as a vote against marriage and the people’s right to vote on our constitution,” according to the Des Moines Register. The statement says “We all understand the importance of tradition in our families and communities. However, the tradition of marriage as designed and created by God trumps any of the traditions of man, including the Iowa Senate,” adding “We have only begun to fight. Stay tuned for the next round, and pray for justice!”