Iowa Pol: No Means No on Antigay Amendment

Iowa's top state senator is standing firm on his commitment to block any legislative movement to constitutionally ban gay marriage in the only Midwestern state where it is legal.

Senate majority leader Michael Gronstal, a Democrat, reiterated his opposition during a Thursday interview on Iowa Public Television. The minority leader, Jerry Behn, said that Republicans will still bring up the issue in session. Lawmakers would have to vote in favor of a constitutional amendment during two consecutive legislative sessions before the issue would go before voters.

But the Democrats maintain a majority in the Senate, following the victory of Liz Mathis in a special election last week.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled in 2009 that laws barring same-sex couples from marrying violated the state constitution, though voters a year later ousted three justices who were up for retention votes.