disorderlyvision
04-02-2010, 04:23 PM
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-43006-Quincy-Libertarian-Examiner~y2010m4d2-Ruling-makes-Iowa-gay-marriage-destination
WGEM has a news blurb discussing how a 2009 decision has led to Iowa becoming a wedding destination for gay couples.
The article states:
"That April 3, 2009, decision, followed weeks later by the issuing of marriage licenses, led to 1,783 weddings between same-sex couple by the end of the year. Of those, 1,044 of the couples were from outside Iowa.
Same-sex couples came from more than a dozen states to get married in Iowa. The top state was Illinois, with 172 couples. Minnesota was second with 100 couples. Other top states include Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas."
I wonder how much those thousand couples, plus their friends and family, contributed to the economy of Iowa?
The article also says that some are proposing an amendment to the state constitution, though it is opposed by democrats and the earliest it could be put on the ballot is 2014. So, there is at least 4 more years of contractual freedom in the state of Iowa.
The constitution gives unlimited right to contract in Article I, Section 10, clause I (known as the Contract Clause), which states:
"No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility."
Marriage is essentially a contract between two people (and the state as you currently have to obtain a marriage license, another area the government has no business in) . The government has no authority to regulate, legislate, or otherwise interfere in contracts. The banning of gay marriage is a gross violation of the Contract Clause.
Even if you do not personally support gay marriage, the citizens of Iowa need to band together and protect their right to contract. If governments can ban your right to contract in this arena where will they go next?
WGEM has a news blurb discussing how a 2009 decision has led to Iowa becoming a wedding destination for gay couples.
The article states:
"That April 3, 2009, decision, followed weeks later by the issuing of marriage licenses, led to 1,783 weddings between same-sex couple by the end of the year. Of those, 1,044 of the couples were from outside Iowa.
Same-sex couples came from more than a dozen states to get married in Iowa. The top state was Illinois, with 172 couples. Minnesota was second with 100 couples. Other top states include Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas."
I wonder how much those thousand couples, plus their friends and family, contributed to the economy of Iowa?
The article also says that some are proposing an amendment to the state constitution, though it is opposed by democrats and the earliest it could be put on the ballot is 2014. So, there is at least 4 more years of contractual freedom in the state of Iowa.
The constitution gives unlimited right to contract in Article I, Section 10, clause I (known as the Contract Clause), which states:
"No State shall enter into any Treaty, Alliance, or Confederation; grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal; coin Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any Bill of Attainder, ex post facto Law, or Law impairing the Obligation of Contracts, or grant any Title of Nobility."
Marriage is essentially a contract between two people (and the state as you currently have to obtain a marriage license, another area the government has no business in) . The government has no authority to regulate, legislate, or otherwise interfere in contracts. The banning of gay marriage is a gross violation of the Contract Clause.
Even if you do not personally support gay marriage, the citizens of Iowa need to band together and protect their right to contract. If governments can ban your right to contract in this arena where will they go next?