Iowa Governor Terry Branstad says he
believes the Iowa Supreme Court erred in legalizing gay marriage.
Branstad
made his comments during a January 27 editorial board meeting with
the Des Moines Register.
The Republican governor said that he
doesn't want to “impose my will on the people” and won't talk
about whether he supports an effort to overturn the court's 2009
unanimous decision with a constitutional amendment that would ban gay
marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships and any government
recognition of gay and lesbian couples in the state.
Last week, the
measure was easily approved by Republicans in the House. But
Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal has pledged to block the
resolution from reaching the Senate floor.
“I think the court made a mistake,”
Branstad said.
“I want to treat everybody with
fairness and equity, but I don't think that includes meaning that
people of the same sex should be able to be married,” Branstad
added. “I don't want to discriminate or treat people in an unfair
manner, but this is something that is a new right, that never existed
before and one certainly that a vast majority of Iowans don't think
was appropriate to be done the way it was done.”
When asked his opinion on the proposed
gay marriage ban, Branstad said, “it's always been my policy not to
try to comment on every single bill that's in the Legislature.”
But seconds earlier Branstad told reporters: “I think the people of
Iowa should have an opportunity to vote on that issue.”