Iowa is a marriage equality state, and has been for some time now. However, Iowa Republicans who oppose it are getting desperate. They seem to think that there is?still?a way to bully court justices who helped make it happen into resignation or retirement. According to Right Wing Watch,?Iowa Republicans are threatening to significantly cut the salaries of the nine remaining marriage equality supporting state supreme court justices. From the Iowa City?Gazette:
A handful of House conservatives want to reduce the pay of Iowa Supreme Court justices involved in a 2009 decision striking down a ban on same-sex marriages as part of an effort to maintain the balance of power in state government.
?It’s our responsibility to maintain the balance of power? between the three co-equal branches of government, Rep. Tom Shaw, R-Laurens, said Tuesday.
The justices ?trashed the separation of powers? with their unanimous Varnum v. Brien decision and implementation of same-sex marriage without a change in state law banning any marriages except between one man and one woman, added Rep. Dwayne Alons, R-Hull.
Their amendment to House File 120, the judicial branch budget bill, would lower the salaries of the four justices on the seven-member court who were part of the unanimous Varnum v. Brein decision to $25,000 ? the same as a state legislator.
It’s not meant to be punitive, Alons and Shaw said Tuesday.
?We’re just holding them responsible for their decision, for going beyond their bounds,? Shaw said.?It’s not the merits of what they said in that decision,? added Alons. He’s trying to stop ?an encroaching wave? of judicial activity including decisions on nude dancing and landowner liability ? decisions the Legislature also is trying to correct through legislation this session.
They can say what they want. We all know that they are a bunch of bigots who don’t want gay couples getting married, and they are determined to do whatever it takes to reverse the decision, despite the fact that numerous previous attempts failed. Shame on you, Iowa Republican Party. You need to get on the right side of history, as does the rest of your national party, or you will be left in the dust. The train has left the station. Get on it, or get out of the way.
Editor: CB
