Mike Gronstal reiterates refusal to put Iowa same sex marriage up for a vote

Yesterday on Iowa Press, Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (left in photo) and Minority Leader Jerry Behn jointly appeared to answer questions. Here is Iowa Press' transcript of the exchange regarding gay marriage in the state, which starts at about 23:38 in the video link earlier in this paragraph.

Glover: Senator Gronstal, way too many issues and way too little time. Last session you refused to allow debate on the issue of gay marriage. Will you do so again in the next session?

Gronstal: Yes.

Glover: Senator Behn, is that a winner politically for republicans? We just had a special Senate election ...

Behn: It's not so much an issue whether it's a winner or a loser politically. The idea, the concept is should the debate be allowed. And as I have stated previously on other issues I believe the debate should be allowed. There are only 150 legislators and where we vote in the booth will not probably affect the outcome. The question is should Iowans get to vote on it. That is all we're discussing. We're not discussing whether that constitutional amendment would pass or not pass, we're just discussing should Iowans get a vote on it. My position is absolutely Iowans should get a vote on that and I think it is outrageous that he's going to say no.

Glover: Senator Gronstal ...

Gronstal: People's rights should not be put to a popular vote. If I can put, if you can put my rights to a popular vote of the people then I can put your rights to a popular vote of the people and eventually, and eventually -- well, we didn’t put slavery to a vote of the people in Iowa, we didn't put the right to go to a school in your neighborhood to a vote of the people of Iowa, we didn't put public accommodations law to a vote of the people in Iowa. The Supreme Court said certain inalienable rights -- you either -- when you say the Pledge of Allegiance, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all, you don't say for all except for gay people, you don't say that. That is what this is about and you don't put ...

Behn: That's not what this is about.

Gronstal: ... yes it is. And you don't put that up to a vote of the people ...

Behn: It's about Iowans being allowed to decide.

Gronstal: ... to a vote of the people. Churches are not required to marry anybody. I just think it's fundamentally wrong to put to a popular -- it's the whole principle ...