The Des Moines Register reports:
Democrats in the Iowa House decided Monday not to move forward this year on a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriages, but a Republican leader still hopes there will be action this session.
However, there is a way for Iowans to initiate constitutional amendments without the state Legislature, constitutional scholars say.
Iowans can decide every 10 years whether they want to call for a constitutional convention - a question that is already scheduled to be on the general election ballot in November 2010.
If voters decide by a simple majority to hold the convention and delegates agree on a marriage amendment, it could in theory be ready for Iowans to consider as early as a special election in 2011.
The other way of amending the Constitution requires both the Iowa House and Iowa Senate to pass a measure during two separate general assemblies. That would put the question on a general election ballot no earlier than November 2012.
That's looking unlikely, lawmakers said Monday.
House Democrats decided in a private meeting that they don't want to vote this year on whether to start the constitutional amendment process. They believe that it could unnecessarily splinter the party, lawmakers said.
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