Iowa Anti-Gay Amendment 'Dead In The Water'

Iowa Anti-Gay Amendment 'Dead In The Water'
by The Associated Press
Posted: March 4, 2005 9:01 pm. ET

(Johnston, Iowa) The top Republican in the Iowa Senate says a proposal to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage is probably doomed.

Senate Republican Leader Stewart Iverson says the proposal that's advancing in the House has virtually no chance of passing in the Senate.

Iverson says there are a number of lawmakers who feel a constitutional amendment is unnecessary and he gives it a a "very, very slim chance."

The one sentence amendment reads: "Only marriage between a man and a woman shall be valid or recognized in the state of Iowa." It would require a statewide vote.

Iowa already has a law banning gay marriage, but supporters say the constitutional amendment is needed in case the courts strike down the law.

Iverson made his comments today during a taping of Iowa Public Television's "Iowa Press" program that airs this weekend.

©Associated Press 2005
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/03/030405iowa.htm