Iowa House Committee Backs Marriage Ban

An Iowa house committee voted Monday to advance a resolution that calls for a constitutional amendment to repeal marriage equality in the state and ban other same-sex partnership recognition.

The Globe Gazette of Mason City reports that house Joint Resolution 6 passed the judiciary committee 13-8 and headed to the full Republican-controlled house, where passage is expected as soon as next week. Senate majority leader Mike Gronstal has vowed to block consideration of the resolution in his chamber. House and senate passage of the measure would be required in two consecutive sessions before an amendment could be presented to voters on the ballot.

"The resolution would ask voters to deny a subset of Iowa couples a host of rights including hospital visitations and a role in making decisions about medical care, businesses and property, Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroschell, D-Ames, said," according to the Globe Gazette.

Earlier Monday, an estimated 200 people packed into a subcommittee hearing, where the resolution also passed.

The judiciary committee chairman Rich Anderson said he would allow a public hearing on the resolution following a request from house Democrats. The public hearing is expected early next week.