Legislature debates Gay Marriage

Iowa legislators are debating the issue of gay marriage. This morning, the House Judiciary Committee discussed a resolution that urges the U.S. Congress to put the wheels in motion for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution declaring that marriage may only be between a man and a woman. Representative Gene Maddox, a republican from Clive who’s chairman of the House Judiciary panel, delayed a vote on the topic and let republicans and democrats meet in private on the matter. Maddox says there’s “clearly some dissent” among committee members. Maddox predicts the committee will vote in favor of “traditional marriage” sometime this week or next, but it won’t be unanimous. He says there are differing opinions. Maddox says some believe the Legislature “absolutely” has to act to ensure gay marriages don’t start happening here, while others believe the state law that declares marriage may only be legal when it’s between a man and a woman is adequate. Maddox, as committee chairman, had the authority to bury the issue so it couldn’t be debated.Maddox says in his opinion, the committee has other, more important things to do, but he didn’t want to stand in the way of a debate on gay marriage since others think it is such an important issue. Today, President Bush announced he supports an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ban gay marriage.