03/04/2008
GOP Iowa Lawmaker Attempts to Force Debate on Same-Sex Marriage
Christopher Rants, a GOP legislator from Sioux City, Iowa, will dust off "a rarely used House rule" to try and force debate on same-sex marriage, the Des Moines Register reports:
"Leaders of the Democratic majority have resisted debate on House Joint Resolution 8, which would begin the process of amending the Iowa Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. The issue is before the Iowa Supreme Court, and a Statehouse debate on it would subvert the judicial process, the Democratic leaders have said...A proposal to amend the constitution is stuck in the House Judiciary Committee. If it fails to advance out of the committee this week, it will not be eligible for debate this session. Under a separate legislative rule, however, a lawmaker can ask to move a proposal out of committee in order to make it eligible for debate. Rants said Monday that he would use that rule to try to keep the proposal alive. If Rants can find at least 51 votes in support of his plan, HJR 8 would be eligible for debate by the full House. The action wouldn't guarantee floor debate, but it would keep the resolution alive past Friday's deadline concerning eligibility for debate."
Ranted Rants: "We have to do it now, or this issue is done. We're going to see gay marriages take place in Iowa. Iowa's going to be sort of the Las Vegas of America, because we have no residency requirement and we'll have people from all across the country coming to Iowa to get married."
UPDATE: Rants attempt to force debate FAILS: "The House rejected the move, voting along party lines -- 50 Democrats against and 46 Republicans in favor. Four House members were absent or not voting, including three Democrats."
Rants to push gay marriage debate today [des moines register]
You may have missed...
Chuck Hurley and Keith Ratliff: Iowa's Dynamic Duo of Bigotry [tr]
Hundreds of Anti-Gay Bigots Push Iowa High Court on Marriage [tr]
Iowa Catholics Call for Same-Sex Marriage Ban [tr]
Two Men Married in Iowa's First Same-Sex Marriage [tr]
Posted 12:15 PM EST by Andy in Gay Marriage, Iowa, News | Permalink
Comments
Rants added, "The gays are coming! The gays are coming! Hide the children! Run for your lives! Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!!"
Posted by: TroyTooner | Mar 4, 2008 12:21:56 PM
"Iowa's going to be sort of the Las Vegas of America"
Um, I'm pretty sure Las Vegas is already the "Las Vegas of America." He's quite brilliant.
Posted by: BusyTimmy | Mar 4, 2008 12:26:32 PM
"because we have no residency requirement and we'll have people from all across the country coming to Iowa to get married."
like thats such a terrible, terrible thing. People want to come to your god forsaken state to come together and commmit out of love and respect. I could think of a lot worse reasons to go there.
Posted by: Phil | Mar 4, 2008 12:35:00 PM
Why do all homophobic, anti-gay activists always look like the kind of creeps you'd keep away from your 13 year old nephew?
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Mar 4, 2008 12:35:52 PM
cause they're jealous they can't get a guy or girl to marry their ass.
Posted by: Phil | Mar 4, 2008 12:46:25 PM
Quick... someone check his teeth for male pubes. You KNOW he has some in there somewhere.
Posted by: Christian | Mar 4, 2008 12:49:16 PM
force debate = bitch loudly
Posted by: Wes | Mar 4, 2008 12:50:14 PM
Yea, "Iowa's going to be sort of the Las Vegas of America," only 1,000 times more boring!
Posted by: Wes | Mar 4, 2008 12:51:37 PM
And another thing... would someone teach that moron to tie a tie to the correct length. How old is he, like 12? Moron.
Posted by: Christian | Mar 4, 2008 12:54:13 PM
Let's see...we're still at war, the economy is in the toilet, people with guns are killing unarmed people on college campuses, at fast food places and in shopping malls, but preventing gay people from getting married is THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE in the world today. Umm, really?
Posted by: Larry | Mar 4, 2008 1:25:42 PM
Free advice to activists in Iowa and surrounding states: Make a poster and banner with large block letters:
"We're going to see gay marriages take place in Iowa!"
- Christopher Rants, Republican
Posted by: Strepsi | Mar 4, 2008 1:46:03 PM
isn't las vegas already the las vegas of america?
just wonderin'
Posted by: alguien | Mar 4, 2008 2:13:58 PM
You just know he's hiding something.
Posted by: anon | Mar 4, 2008 5:13:13 PM
Recent Comments