It is 2:58 p.m. and Senator Merlin Bartz (R-Grafton) is explaining an amendment he's proposing which would let county recorders refuse — "as a matter of conscience" — to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple. "This might be one of the most important decisions they make in their life as a county recorder," Bartz just said.
Bartz also said one county recorder had threatened to resign rather than issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple, but he did not identify which county that recorder serves.
Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) has just raised a procedural question on the amendment. The top leaders in the senate are now down in the central "well" area of the senate, discussing this privately. Bartz is attempting to add his proposal as an amendment to a bill dealing with identity theft.
At 3:06 p.m., Senate President Jack Kibbie ruled the amendment "not germane." Republicans then decided to "caucus" which means they'll go in a meeting room, shut the door and talk among themselves in private.
UPDATE: Here's the Radio Iowa story.
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
Recent Comments