I know there must be a place -- somewhere either between or beyond the salvos of political rhetoric of Des Moines -- for Iowans to have a real conversation about civil rights in our state. Unfortunately, when the rhetoric is so loud and so obscene, everyday Iowans tend to switch to a different channel and tune out important issues. Monday, for example, House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, a Sioux City Republican, decided he would implement a rarely used legislative rule to move a proposal on the Iowa Marriage Amendment out of committee. Rants was prompted to make this move due to the fact that the Iowa Legislature is entering it's first "funnel week" -- a time when bills not moved out of committee die on the vine.

Labels: Christopher Rants, marriage