DES MOINES, IOWA — Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal said he intends to block efforts in the Iowa Legislature next year to refer a gay-marriage ban to voters.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Gronstal said he knows his stand against letting voters decide whether to amend the Iowa Constitution to ban gay marriage could hurt him with some constituents, but he was willing to take the risk. Gronstal made a similar commitment during the last legislative session, which began shortly after voters removed three Iowa Supreme Court justices after a campaign against them that focused on their role in a unanimous 2009 decision that found a ban on same-sex marriage violated the state constitution.
“I’m not going to put discrimination into the state’s constitution,” said Gronstal, a Democrat from Council Bluffs.
Gronstal said he believes his position on gay marriage will attract as many voters as it repels.
“My read is the public at large is changing pretty significantly,” Gronstal said. “It used to be that if you’re under the age of 30, two-thirds of you were probably fine with gay marriage and if you were over 50, two-thirds of you were against it.”
Now, Gronstal said, “more like two-thirds of the people under 40 are fine with it.”
Senate rules give Gronstal the sole power to choose what measures are debated, and unless his fellow Democrats opt to remove him from his post or he changes his mind, his decision will push off a statewide gay marriage vote for at least several years. Democrats hold a narrow 26-24 seat majority in the Senate.
To amend the Iowa Constitution, lawmakers elected in consecutive elections would need to approve the proposal, meaning votes would be required in 2013 and 2015 at the earliest. Unless the state then called a special election, the matter wouldn’t go to voters until 2016.
Bob Vander Plaats, who heads the conservative group The Family Leader, speculated that Gronstal’s position would hurt him in his bid for re-election.
“I think my political assessment of his decision is it will lead to his defeat in 2012,” said Vander Plaats, who led the campaign to remove the three state high court justices. “Obviously he’ll be a top target of ours.”
Vander Plaats said he would seek to repeat the successful campaign against the justices in his effort to defeat Gronstal.
“Anytime you stifle the people’s voice, people are going to hold you accountable,” said Vander Plaats.