Despite sweeping GOP gains in Iowa government Tuesday and the removal of the three Iowa judges and the fact that Republicans will occupy the governor’s office and will control the Iowa House next year, and there’s a chance that final results could give Republicans a 25-25 deadlock in the Iowa Senate.

But Iowa Senate Democrats will still maintain at least equal power which will give Majority Leader Mike Gronstal authority to prevent a vote on a marriage amendment to the state constitution.  Which he has vowed he will do.

There’s no mechanism whereby senators, even a majority of senators, can override the majority leader, and Gronstal believes the right thing means protecting the civil rights of gays and lesbians. He reaffirmed Wednesday that he won’t bow to pressure, no matter how nasty it gets. 

“The easy political thing for me to do years ago would have been to say, ‘Oh, let’s let this thing go. It’s just too political and too messy,’ ” Gronstal said. “What’s ugly is giving up what you believe in, that everybody has the same rights. Giving up on that? That’s ugly.”

Gronstal said he hopes the Senate doesn’t waste time on parliamentary maneuvers or partisan games connected to gay marriage. “We’re going to focus on creating jobs and moving Iowa’s economy forward,” he said. “The election is over. Iowans have spoken. Iowans are tired of the elections. Our job now is to find common ground.”

Source – The Des Moines Register