An amendment to Iowa's constitution to ban gay marriage and a move to
reduce property taxes will be among the top priorities of newly
elected Iowa Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck. Wieck, a Republican
from Sioux City in his second term, was elected by party colleagues
last week to replace retiring Sen. Mary Lundby. Republicans, holding
only 20 seats in the 50-seat Senate, have little power to wield. Their
new leadership will determine what actions they will take to use what
little power they have in influencing policies -- and to maneuver to
regain seats in the 2008 elections. In an interview with Iowa
Independent this week, Wieck discussed three main areas of focus that
he will use to achieve those goals. Those three issues: property tax
reform, health care reform and a constitutional amendment banning gay
marriage.

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