Lawmakers in both houses of the Iowa legislature made moves to bring about a gay marriage vote today. However, neither effort was able to garner the majority needed to move forward.
In the House, Republicans needed 51 votes in order to bring a bill calling for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage out of committee. However, the motion failed 45-54.
Meanwhile in the Senate, Sen. Paul McKinley, R-Chariton, called on fellow lawmakers to sign a petition to bring a similar amendment to the Senate floor. However, the petition only garnered 19 signatures, falling short of the requisite 26 signatures. Only one Democrat joined McKinley and the Senate Republicans in calling for a vote on the bill.
“Once again, Republicans are standing up to allow Iowans a vote while Democrats continue to obstruct and turn their backs on the voters,” McKinley said in a release.
Gay marriage opponents will likely not have another opportunity to push a vote on the bills this session.
“While our bi-partisan effort fell short of gaining the 26 votes needed to proceed, the voters this November will have an opportunity to decide if they are content with the continued Democrat obstruction and inaction,” McKinley stated.
