Washington, DC — Local Republican committees in at least six Iowa counties have voted to censure U.S. Senator Joni Ernst for her vote to have the federal government recognize same-sex marriages.
The move means all states must recognize same-sex marriages from other states, but Ernst says it does not force states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
County party officials who’ve criticized Ernst say her vote violates the Iowa GOP’s platform, which calls for the repeal of laws that recognize same-sex marriage.
During a conference call with Iowa reporters, Ernst said the bill codified exemptions for religious institutions that do not wish to recognize same-sex unions.
According to Ernst, the bill also has new and explicit protections for non-profit religious organizations. Ernst was among a dozen Republican senators who supported the bill. And Ernst says she understands there are a number of efforts to censure her for that vote.
This summer, the Mahaska County GOP voted to censure Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of LeClaire for her support of the initial bill on same-sex marriage. On December 1st, the Des Moines County GOP voted to condemn both Miller-Meeks and Ernst. The Wright County GOP’s Central Committee is another group that’s voted to censure Ernst and its Facebook page is calling for a constitutional amendment defining legal marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
