Des Moines — Republican leaders aren’t sure whether the 2024 legislature will set new rules for Iowa Capitol displays after the controversy surrounding this month’s Satanic Temple of Iowa display.
House Speaker Pat Grassley says the topic was discussed earlier this month during a private meeting of House Republicans.
The Satanic Temple of Iowa applied for and received a permit from the Iowa Department of Administrative Services to set up its display in the Capitol rotunda for two weeks.
Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver says he and other G-O-P senators are reviewing the current rules for Capitol displays.
A man from Mississippi has been charged with vandalizing the statue in the Satanic Temple’s display. A nativity scene also was displayed in the Iowa Capitol this year, along with a banner from the Iowa Athetist and Free Thinkers and a display by the National Freedom from Religion Foundation. Early this month Governor Reynolds issued a written statement, saying in a free society the best response to objectionable speech is more speech and she invited like-minded Iowans to join her in praying over the Capitol and recognizing the nativity scene on display in the rotunda.
