Iowa Senate Democrats and Iowa House Democrats don’t want to have a direct vote on marriage, but they want to try to sneak language in the Iowa Code that will replace the words “husband and wife.” Even though there has not been a legal change by the Legislature to the definition of marriage since the Iowa Constitution does not grant the Iowa Supreme Court legislative authority.
So instead they are going to try to fiddle with our current tax code and hopes no one notices. In House version – HSB 705 and and the Senate version – SSB 3200 you have to scroll down to line 24:6 where you see their desire to amend Iowa Code 209 68A.601 to read “married persons.”
You can contact the committee members assigned to these bills to take that language out. In the House contact: Representative Sharon Steckman (D-Mason City), Representative Charles Isenhart (D-Dubuque) and Representative Erik Helland (R-Grimes). In the Senate please contact Senator Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque), Senator Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City) and Senator Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale).
Let the people decide instead of trying to change the definition under the radar. Don’t taint what overall is necessary legislation as it makes some necessary and helpful changes to our tax code by kowtowing to the Supreme Court with this language.