Same-sex marriage ‘off table’

Democratic legislative leaders insist the 2010 session won't get sidetracked by debate on overturning same-sex marriage.

“The marriage amendment is off the table,” said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.

The issue exploded in April when the Iowa Supreme Court struck down an Iowa law banning same-sex marriage. Traditional marriage backers will try again to let Iowans decide the issue by placing a constitutional ban on the ballot.

“We'll again do the right thing, and let the people of Iowa be the final arbiters on that,” said Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley, R-Chariton. “Iowans should have the say.”

The 2010 legislative session convenes Monday for an abbreviated 80-day course.

They can raise the issue, but House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, said he won't let same-sex marriage or any so-called “hot-button issue” shift the focus of the session from the state budget, jobs and the economy.

“If they are going to get up and do something on gay marriage every day, so be it. They have that right, but we are going to get the state's business done first,” Murphy said.

House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, doesn't believe the debate has to be time-consuming.

“It could be less than a half-hour if they would just deal with it,” he said. “If there's 51 people who want to debate it, we'll debate it. If there aren't 51, then we won't.”

The strength of opening-week rallies by groups on both sides of the issue may color the entire session.

OneIowa, the state's largest gay rights group, will hold a Red, Blue, Purple fundraiser in Des Moines the night before the session opens to demonstrate solidarity and opposition to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Iowa.

Two days later, when Gov. Chet Culver delivers his Condition of the State address, red-clad members of LUV (Let us vote) Iowa, an effort by Iowa Family Policy Center ACTION, will rally at the Capitol.

“We're going to come, shake (lawmakers') hands, look them in the eye and say, ‘Let us vote,' ” said Bryan English of LUV Iowa.

OneIowa is taking a similar approach, said spokesman Justin Uebelhor. “Our members will share their stories with legislators. We think those stories make all the difference in the world,” Uebelhor said.

He hopes activity on the issue is a replay of 2009, with Democratic leaders quashing debate on same-sex marriage.

“We think leaders have their priorities straight, focusing on common concerns like jobs and health-care instead of issues that divide us,” Uebelhor said. “Our hope is that this doesn't get any traction.”

Despite the focus on pocketbook issues, Gronstal has been around the Legislature long enough to know “there's always something that surprises us.”

“Something” might be expanded gambling, federal deductibility, gun permits, closing parts of state parks, regulating puppy mills or a bicyclists' bill of rights.