A constitutional amendment that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman failed in the Iowa House by a vote of 45-54.
Rep. Dolores Mertz was the only Democrat in favor of the amendment.
The Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) last year. DOMA defines marriage as between one man and one woman.
Chuck Hurley, president of the Iowa Family Policy Center, explained that lawmakers said they did not want a marriage amendment in 2005 because the state’s high court would not overturn DOMA.
“What remains now is for Iowans to speak,” he said, “and say forcefully, ‘We the people want the right to vote.’”
He said Iowans would likely have to wait until 2014 before they have a chance to vote on the controversial issue.
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