MARRIAGE AMENDMENT UPDATE

The 82^nd General Assembly, second session, is four weeks old. Although a significant number of bills have been moving through the process, the Marriage Amendment has not seen the light of day. In the Senate, the Majority Leader, Senator Mike Gronstal, denies he is holding up the Amendment. According to him, no one in the Senate has presented to him a bill he can act on. Therefore, he can’t hold up what does not exist. At least that’s the way I understood his reasoning when I asked him if he would permit a vote on the Amendment.

On the House side, Speaker of the House, Patrick Murphy, told me he has no plans to bring up HJR-8. I’m sure he has heard enough from members of his own party in that chamber that the Amendment would pass with a significant majority. Minority Leader, Christopher Rants, has signed up 48 sponsors on the Amendment. We have been trying to sign up at least three more, which would be a majority. The House Democrats I’ve talked to who would vote for the bill, have been reluctant to agree to sign on as sponsors. They realize that going against their leaders by becoming the majority votes on this Amendment will attract considerable heat, and may cost them campaign financing help toward their 2008 races. According to a recent Des Moines Register article, House Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy and Speaker Murphy have collected close to 400,000 dollars, which they can parcel out to various candidates.

Because of the lack of progress on this issue, you may conclude that we are getting discouraged about the possibility of the Amendment being acted upon this session. Yes, the odds are against us; but if God be for us, who can be against us? “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6,7)

I know that Democrat leadership in both chambers is beginning to feel some heat as you put pressure on your Democrat Representatives and Senators. Your prayers are also being felt. Please continue to pray and make contact with your legislators, especially when they hold a forum in their home district.

We have heard of the excuses used by some legislators to put off questions from constituents. They are with you on the issue but want to wait until the Iowa Supreme Court makes its final decision. Many of you reported that your legislator gave you that response. I encourage you to go to the Web site, www.letusvoteiowa.com. There you will find all the information you need to respond to the excuses you will hear.

Iowa Christian Alliance is collecting information about weekend forums legislators hold in their home districts. We need your help. Legislators usually post information about their “town hall meetings” in your local paper or at the library. What we need is the date or dates, the time of day and location. Please send this information to webmaster@iowachristian.com. We are encouraging values voters to attend these meetings to find out where their Senator or Representative stand on this issue and urge them to request from their leadership, the opportunity to let Iowa voters, not just one district judge or seven Supreme Court Justices decide the definition of marriage.

If we are going to move this Amendment, it will happen only by your prayers and your willingness to confront the people you have put into office to represent you at the Capitol.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1^st Cor. 15:58)