KTIV NewsChannel 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsIowa GOP candidates favor public vote in same-sex marriage

Iowa GOP candidates favor public vote in same-sex marriage

NEAR IDA GROVE, Iowa (KTIV) - As folks, in Maine, vote publicly on same-sex marriage, four men running for Iowa governor want voters in the "hawkeye state" to have the same chance.

During a GOP forum, on a farm near Ida Grove, Iowa, state representatives Chris Rants, and Rod Roberts... and businessmen Christian Fong and Bob Vander Plaats, fielded questions from republicans in Crawford and Ida counties.

All four agree the Iowa supreme court "legislated from the bench" when it struck down the state's ban on gay marriage. And, if elected, they'd take steps to put the issue to a public vote. Rep. Chris Rants, (R) Candidate for Governor said "The governor has the ability to keep the legislature in session. That's perhaps the biggest trump card he has. If I was governor, the first thing I would tell the Speaker of the House, of the Majority Leader in the Senate, is this is something that you're gonna vote on." Rep. Rod Roberts, (R) Candidate for Governor said "Before a budget agreement is made, with me, they will have taken the resolution up and voted on that question for the people of Iowa." Christian Fong, (R) Candidate for Governor said "It's about giving Iowans the opportunity to vote on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. I would personally support it. I would use the office of the governor to make sure that Iowans have that opportunity to vote." Bob Vander Plaats, (R) Candidate for Governor said "I'm the only candidate on the Republican ticket that has said, on day one, I'll issue an executive order to place a stay on same sex marriages until the people of Iowa have a right to vote on that issue."

Candidate Jerry Behn had agreed to come to the event, but had to cancel to finish bringing in his crop. Former governor Terry Branstad was also invited, but declined the invitation.