IOWA INSIDER

Republican State Rep. Scott Raecker of Urbandale is refuting a blind item in the Des Moines alternative-weekly newspaper, Cityview, that claims he is considering a run for governor.

“They don’t have their facts correct,” Raecker told me when I asked about the idea he might take on Democratic Gov. Chet Culver in 2010.

“There would be no truth to that. It’s not on my radar.”

Lee Enterprises’ Dan Gearino reports —

DES MOINES – Iowa Sen. David Hartsuch, R-Bettendorf, is circulating apetition to run for Congress, though he said today he has not made a final decision about whether to enter the race.

“I see the importance of having someone out there fighting for the values of limited government, strong families and lower taxes,” Hartsuch said.

If he decides to run, he would be the only Republican challenger so far to come forward to challenge freshman U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo. Braley won an open seat two years ago in Iowa’s 1st District, which covers the eastern part of the state.

Hartsuch, 46, a physician, said he will decide by the March 14 filing deadline.

He sent a letter to supporters today asking for their assistance.

“If Bruce Braley is allowed to run unopposed, this will have drastic consequences for the Republican Party in the 1st District,” Hartsuch said in the letter.

He was elected to the Iowa Senate two years ago after he successfully challenged a Republican incumbent, Maggie Tinsman of Bettendorf. He has gotten strong support from social conservatives.

Braley is officially beginning his re-election campaign later this week with events throughout the district.

An attempt by Republicans in the Iowa House to force a vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage failed this morning.

House Minority Rants Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, sought a vote on the measure, which has failed to gain approval in a House committee this year.

Rants tried a procedural vote that would have moved the measure, House Joint Resolution 8, out of committee and before the full House for a possible debate.

Rants’ maneuver failed on a 46-50 vote, with majority Democrats defeating it.

Rants said he was disappointed some Democrats, seven by his count, who have supported a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in the past did not vote along with him this time.

“If those seven had voted with us, it would have passed, but I guess they will have to explain to their constituents why they flip-flopped on this issue,” Rants said.

Because the vote was a procedural vote, no debate was allowed, although the rhetoric surrounding the gay marriage issue has grown more heated in recent weeks at the Statehouse.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, said Democrats felt the issue should be settled in the courts before the Iowa Legislature might take action.

“It was primarily done to generate press, which I think it certainly served that purpose,” McCarthy said after the vote.
The issue currently is before the Iowa Supreme Court.

“I know the vast majority of our caucus supports marriage between a man and a woman,” McCarthy said. “They voted for that last spring, but they believe that the judicial process should be allowed to come to finality before you alter the constitution.”

McCarthy expects the issue will be used against some Democrats up for re-election this year.