Vander Plaats plans move to stop same sex marriage

Now in his third bid for the state's highest office, Republican Bob Vander Plaats is planning a dramatic move if he wins the governorship.

He said Thursday that he'll immediately issue an executive order putting same sex marriages on hold until the Legislature and, ultimately the voters, pass judgment on it.

During a Thursday afternoon visit to Fort Dodge, the Sioux City businessman said he would also work for tax and regulatory reforms that he thinks will make the state more inviting to businesses.

''I believe Republicans need to move beyond just saying no and we need to say here's the solution,'' Vander Plaats said.

He first ran for govenor in 2002, losing the Republican nomination to Doug Gross. He ran again in 2006, and eventually became the running mate for the nominee, U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle, R-Manchester. They were defeated by Gov. Chet Culver and Lt. Gov. Patty Judge.

So far, his opponents for the 2010 Republican nomination include Cedar Rapids businessman Christian Fong and state Rep. Chris Rants, R-Sioux City. Vander Plaats said he's the only Republican candidate who has firsthand experience in business, education and human services.

When the Iowa Supreme Court legalized same sex marriage earlier this year, Vander Plaats asked Culver to issue an executive order to ''put a stay on the court's opinion until the Legislature acts.''

Culver's advisers said the governor has no power to do that. Vander Plaats disagrees.

''I've got constitutional lawyers that back me up,'' he said.

When asked to identify them, he named former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia and Herb Titus, a Virginia attorney. He did not name any Iowans.

''My belief is that marriage is clearly reserved for one man and one woman,'' he said. ''I believe government grew out of marriage. Marriage didn't grow out of government.''

Vander Plaats said the issue extends beyond limiting marriage to one man and one woman. He said the Supreme Court exceeded its powers with the ruling.

''In this 69-page opinion, you had a Supreme Court that clearly legislated from the bench, clearly executed from the bench and clearly amended the constitution from the bench, all three things that are not within their right to do,'' he said.

On the economic front, Vander Plaats said he wants to implement a ''fair, family friendly, much flatter and predictable income tax for individuals.''

He added that he wants to reduce or eliminate the corporate income tax.

The candidate said he wants to cut local property taxes by having the state government assume the responsibility of paying for all mental health services.

He is also proposing the elimination of instructional support levies that are added to school district property tax bills. He is recommending that the state pay for all the programs now funded with those levies.

Those two moves, he said, should cut property taxes and help fuel development.

Vander Plaats established his campaign committee on Jan. 26. He expects to formally announce his candidacy in late summer or early fall.

Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net

Member Comments

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Anderson
07-04-09 9:13 PM »Report Abuse	Would that we had a group of such erudition, character and experience overseeing our nation now, Christian AND Free Mason though they may have been. For all who do not believe Judeo-Christian values are reflected in our Constitution, your are invited to enjoy living in most of the other countries of the world to see what govt and life is like in them. But do read the book mentioned to learn a little of what you think you speak.
aarchc
07-04-09 11:56 AM »Report Abuse	It still baffles me that all of this over what is (or should be) a true non-issue. While I respect other opinions on the same sex marriage issue, I can't help but wonder why those opposed care? I get that you might not believe in same sex marriage, but what impact does it have on you? WHO CARES? Rights are not being taken from you, rather just given to a group of deserving people (despite what your personal religion, or your interpretation of it, tells you). It's just so unfortunate that this fires people up the way it does. Don't we have bigger fish to fry? The war? Healthcare in this country? Welfare reform? I wish everyone could be as passionate about the things that TRULY have an impact on the world in which we live.
ponders
07-04-09 8:57 AM »Report Abuse	"the gentlemen who wrote the Declaration of Independence and, particularly, our Constitution, the majority of whom were themselves theologians. Know of what you speak!" Some were theologians, almost to a man they were free masons. I think that was a more dominant influence. Key phrases in the Declaration parrot free mason works.
boatassembler
07-04-09 1:41 AM »Report Abuse	Jaybares yes history in the bible was violent But have we done any better in the laast 200 years? Man is flawed. So there will always be violence. Unfortunately.
FDTROOPER
07-03-09 11:03 PM »Report Abuse	The Constitution was written to separate Church and State. So there would never be a theocracy in America. Vander Plaatz must not have read the constitution and only parts of his bible.This social agenda will not sell except to a very few.
Anderson
07-03-09 10:42 PM »Report Abuse	All here would be better informed for having read "Rediscovering God in America" to understand better the role that religion and Christianity had in motivating the gentlemen who wrote the Declaration of Independence and, particularly, our Constitution, the majority of whom were themselves theologians. Know of what you speak!
jaybares
07-03-09 10:03 PM »Report Abuse	Can you explain the lesson(s) to be learned and behaviors to be patterned as described in Samual? Some of the history in the Bible seems so unnecessarily violent.
boatassembler
07-03-09 9:05 PM »Report Abuse	And ponders never said that our values were limited to Christians. I agree many religions (and non religious people) have the same values. But if we try to exemplify Christ why not call us a Christian state? That does not exclude room for other just as qualified religions.If we act as a democratic society don't we call ourselves a democratic republic?
boatassembler
07-03-09 8:57 PM »Report Abuse	aarchc: I apologize for accusing you of saying what you didn't say. Just wondering what your definition of a Christian state is.
boatassembler
07-03-09 8:51 PM »Report Abuse	Not spitting on His ministry. Show me how I've done that in this one post. Just pointed out that we are a Christian state
kaleidoscope
07-03-09 8:45 PM »Report Abuse	"Now in his third bid...." should give him a clue as to his prospects. Rants is a bad choice, too. The Republican Party needs new blood and I hope that happens before the next election cycle. They could also get rid of Stu Iverson and gain a few hundred thousand votes!
thendrickson
07-03-09 8:27 PM »Report Abuse	hey boat" I'm sure jesus appreciates you claiming we're a christian state, but just claiming it and then spitting on Jesus Christ and His ministry isn;t usually a good way to prove the point.
ponders
07-03-09 5:39 PM »Report Abuse	aarchc, No, I don't see you as malicious, nor do I disagree with your points. Thus the ? at the end. My mistake.
ponders
07-03-09 5:35 PM »Report Abuse	"****, well some of your posts are good. But he's going, not me.....I will be a willful sinner that week." As long as you are sinning, may as well keep him around too! Expands the possibilities.
MzNorml
07-03-09 4:39 PM »Report Abuse	L-M-A-O is what was there
MzNorml
07-03-09 4:39 PM »Report Abuse	****, well some of your posts are good. But he's going, not me.....I will be a willful sinner that week.
aarchc
07-03-09 4:32 PM »Report Abuse	Ponders: you make great points, and I appreciate you sharing them. Regarding my style...I was simply defending what I said, as there were comments that indicated that I said things that I in fact did not. I do not feel that is malicious nor done in an attacking manner. My views and comments are far more inclusive than many others here, and I even clarified my respect for others and their beliefs. Blatant disregard for others ad their views, as well as accusing people of making statements that they didn't is far more malicious, "attacking", and in poor taste than anything I have shared here today.
ponders
07-03-09 4:02 PM »Report Abuse	aarchc, perhaps it is your attack style that comes across as malicious, even if your view isn't?
ponders
07-03-09 4:00 PM »Report Abuse	boat, we are a Nation made up of citizens, the majority of which claim to be Christian. Many of the founding fathers were Christian, some were not. All were male, all white, many slave owners, all beliving that women should not vote, own property, etc. They were very careful to keep religion and government separate. That is not an accident that should now be ignored. Probably more accurate to define our foundation as white male racist than Christian. "Values" you claim as Christian can be found in many cultures which have no christianity. Morals, common sense, reasonable law are not the sole property of any religion.
aarchc
07-03-09 3:43 PM »Report Abuse	boatassembler: are you serious? Why must it be a Christian state? I'm not following your question. We have freedom of religion in this country, so why would any state be declared a Christian state? I appreciate where you're coming from but I don't agree. Easier to deny Him? When did I say that? That's right...I didn't. I don't deny Him, in fact I said nothing specifically of my personal beliefs/religion or anyone else's, I simply stated that no ONE person's or group's religious beliefs should rule us as a whole. That's all. My view isn't nearly as malicious as you make it out to be. I would hope you're smart enough to appreciate that, rather than just jump to conclusions and put words in my mouth based on the fact that you don't agree with me. Come on now.
boatassembler
07-03-09 3:35 PM »Report Abuse	aarchc: You say we are a predominently Christian state, but not a Christian state. What percentage do we need to be, to be a Christian state? Our laws are based on Christian values. The preambles of ALL 50 states refer to a "Supreme Being", just as Christianity does. We can be a Christian state without all people being Christian. You just don't want to admit we are a Christian state. Makes it easier to deny Him I guess.
aarchc
07-03-09 3:21 PM »Report Abuse	You're absolutely right, Maryjane, and I apologize if my comment appeared to be a blanket statement. I respect Christians and the Christian rite, but I don't respect those who feel that it should dictate everyone. It's bigotry at its finest, and it is pathetic.
Maryjane
07-03-09 2:56 PM »Report Abuse	I think it's important to remember, not all Christians are in agreement on this issue. Many mainline Christians, some Catholics, the Universal Unitarians, are in favor of marriage equality. There is no one-size "Christian position" on marriage.
aarchc
07-03-09 2:48 PM »Report Abuse	This will blow the heads off of the narrow minds, but all of this is based on Religion. Namely Christianity. We are not a Christian state or country. Predominantly Christian? Perhaps. But not Christian as a whole, so why should you use your religion as a basis for laws that govern us as a whole. You can't possibly think that makes sense, and if you do, you're not very intelligent. Period. Now here comes the part where you fire back that there is only one God (yours, of course) and that this world should abide by all the rules that your religion dictates. Barf.
djsmith72
07-03-09 2:41 PM »Report Abuse	Vander Plaat in Culver OUT!!!!!!!!

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