Yes, this vote will come up in the run-up to the November elections. Great tactical move by Republican Leader Christopher Rants, and framed legitimately around the running debate in Democracy: having legislation and policy made by taking a vote either in a legislative body, or by the people, or having policy made by one judge – taking the decision making power out of the voters hands.

Rants, R-Sioux City, wanted to push a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage out of the Judiciary Committee, claiming that Democratic leaders have been holding back the legislation.Rants tried to force the resolution by employing a rare rule that would have required the entire House chamber to vote whether the measure should be lifted out of committee and put on the debate schedule. He had claimed there was bipartisan support to do that as long as Democratic leaders didn’t try to influence their members to vote along party lines.

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