Courier Lee News Service

DES MOINES - Stymied by majority Democrats in attempts to have a debate about the Iowa Supreme Court's recent ruling striking down the state ban on same-sex marriage, Sen. Merlin Bartz, R-Grafton, is taking the campaign directly to Iowans.

He's asking Iowans to sign a petition calling on county recorders to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples until the conflict between the court's decision Iowa 1998 Defense of Marriage Act that recognizes marriage only between one man and one woman is resolved by a vote of the people.

The petition can be found at www.iowasenaterepublicans.org. Look for Bartz's name under "Senators."