Social conservatives in Iowa are urging
Democrats to elect new leadership in the Senate to help get a
question regarding gay marriage on the ballot, the Chicago Tribune
reported.
Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal
has reiterated his vow to block any effort to place an amendment that
defines marriage as a heterosexual union in the Iowa Constitution.
Such a move would overturn last year's Iowa Supreme Court decision
that brought gay marriage to the Midwest.
“I don't think I've really wavered on
that subject,” he said. “I'm not going to write discrimination
into the constitution.”
Iowa
voters on November 2 ousted three of the seven justices who legalized
gay marriage last year, and turned over the House and the
Governor's Mansion to Republicans, sending a powerful message to
Democrats.
But Democrats kept control of the
Senate, making Gronstal the largest roadblock to plans by Republicans
to move on repeal.
“The people have spoken and I would
offer some helpful advice to Senate Democrats to listen to the people
when electing their new leader,” Bob Vander Plaats, who
spearheaded the $1 million campaign to oust the three judges,
said.
Gronstal, however, is running
unopposed.