Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal promised this week to block an Iowa Senate vote on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, even if a majority of senators sign a petition asking for a vote. The Republican reaction to Gronstal's comments makes me wonder whether gay marriage will be in the coming decade what the death penalty was to Iowa Republicans in the 1980s and 1990.

DES MOINES — The Iowa Senate Republican leader said Monday he believes the Iowa Legislature has to begin the process of giving the people a vote on a marriage amendment to the state constitution to avoid a “redo” of the anti-retention effort that ousted three Iowa Supreme Court justices in last week’s election.

WATERLOO—Community Aids Assistance Project, CAAP, will host its annual Benefit Saturday, November 13, 2010 at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in downtown Waterloo. The CAAP Benefit raises money to support local health organizations including the American Red Cross, Cedar Valley Hospice, Cedar Aids Support System, HIV Prevention Educational Programming at the Black Hawk County Health Department and the UNI Health Department. It also provides support for individuals and families living with HIV and AIDs in the Cedar Valley. CAAP encourages community members to attend and learn more about how they can help those in need and prevent the spread of this life-changing epidemic.

Emboldened by their successful campaign to oust three Iowa Supreme Court justices who favored gay marriage, coupled with a Republican takeover of the House, social conservatives are pressuring Governor-Elect Terry Branstad to end the Midwest's only gay marriage law now.