Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal said he intends to block efforts in the Iowa Legislature next year to refer a gay marriage ban to voters.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Gronstal said he knows his stand against letting voters decide whether to amend the Iowa Constitution to ban gay marriage could hurt him with some constituents, but he was willing to take the risk. Gronstal made a similar commitment during the last legislative session, which began shortly after voters removed three Iowa Supreme Court justices after a campaign against them that focused on their role in a unanimous 2009 decision that found a ban on same-sex marriage violated the state constitution.
"I'm not going to put discrimination into the state's constitution," said Gronstal, a Democrat from Council Bluffs.
Gronstal said he believes his position on gay marriage will attract as many voters as it repels.
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Complete article at Press-Citizen : http://bit.ly/oMj3U3
