Gay Marriage Foe Challenges Iowa Campground Policy

[zsdersw]

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_...rriage_Foe_Challenges_Iowa_Campground_Policy/

Radio Iowa source: http://www.radioiowa.com/2010/05/06...stions-family-camping-policy-for-state-parks/

An Iowa state senator opposed to same-sex marriage wants to challenge a change in state parks policy that would extend family camping privileges to married gay couples.

Sen. Merlin Bartz has previously called for county recorders to defy last year’s state supreme court ruling and deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Now the Republican from Grafton wants to question a state parks proposal that would include gay families in guidelines that allow families to pitch more than one tent on a campsite.

According to Radio Iowa, “The rates or fees for camp sites are the same, whether you’re a family or a non-family, but the state allows families to put up more than one tent on a camp site. ‘They’re changing their language even though the state legislature has not had a debate on this particular issue,’ Bartz says.

“Bartz is a member of the Legislature’s Administrative Rules Review Committee which meets on Monday. He’s asked [Department of Natural Resources] officials to explain their proposal at that meeting. Bartz says he wants to be ‘vigilant’ and keep state agencies from writing rules that extend new benefits to gay couples. ‘A lot of the advocates of gay marriage in Iowa have said, ‘It doesn’t affect anything. Nothing has changed,’ Bartz says. ‘The reality of it is that everything is changing.’”

The committee will consider the proposed rule Monday, but a vote on the final draft will not take place until later this summer. The committee could choose to delay a decision until 2011 so the full legislature can consider the proposal, reports Radio Iowa.

I bolded the line that made me laugh when I read it.

OK, in all seriousness, there are a few things that come to mind:

1. If the fee is the same, what's the big deal for either anyone to amend any existing policy (or have a policy in the first place) or for anyone to oppose it? I suspect there isn't enough for the legislature to do in Iowa

2. We already know that we, as a nation, have too much government and too many laws and restrictions. Apparently the same is true in Iowa.

 

[WHAMPOM]

I am for legislation to make pi equal to 3.00 instead of that damn *odd* number 3.14159.......! I want my "More Stupid" prize now.

 

[nakedfrog]

He would prefer they stay in one tent? Doesn't he know what they're DOING in there? D:

 

[Mani]

Wonder how long before Merlin gets caught with another dude's magic wand.

 

[her209]

What a dick.

 

[Kappo]

Bartz says he wants to be ‘vigilant’ and keep state agencies from writing rules that extend new benefits to gay couples.

This is the only statement I really agree with. New laws should never be written with a specific group of people in mind. Laws should apply to everyone equally, not pander to a specific group of people. Laws are/should be there for a general guideline, not to show love or hate for any group.

That said, guy needs to give it up. If you are all together, even as friends, it shouldn't matter at all.

 

[child of wonder]

$1,000 says Senator Bartz is in the closet himself.

 

[Harabec]

The guy is anti-social and should probably be hanged for the good of humanity.
Now...whats this nonsense about allowing only 1 tent, 2 for married etc.?
Is this some absurd US logic?

 

[werepossum]

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_...rriage_Foe_Challenges_Iowa_Campground_Policy/

Radio Iowa source: http://www.radioiowa.com/2010/05/06...stions-family-camping-policy-for-state-parks/


I bolded the line that made me laugh when I read it.

OK, in all seriousness, there are a few things that come to mind:

1. If the fee is the same, what's the big deal for either anyone to amend any existing policy (or have a policy in the first place) or for anyone to oppose it? I suspect there isn't enough for the legislature to do in Iowa

2. We already know that we, as a nation, have too much government and too many laws and restrictions. Apparently the same is true in Iowa.

LOL Yes, that line is unintentionally hilarious. Agree completely, government has no business approving or disapproving the composition of families. If people are causing disruptions by their actions, then they deserve to be removed. If people are causing disruptions by their very existence then the other campers need to man up (pitch more tents?) There is and should be no right to not be offended.

Iowa needs to follow the Texas model - get in, address the real problems, get the flock out and go home before you do more damage.

 

[Dekasa]

Hey, we have gay marriage here in Iowa, I think the other 40 some states need to pony up and get with the 21st century.

And I haven't heard of my legislature doing anything in..... a long time. Oh, and that guy's an ass. I mean, let's make sure no one changes policy to make sure gays are treated equally, give me a break. Guy should find a new job and stop embarrassing my state.

 

[werepossum]

Hey, we have gay marriage here in Iowa, I think the other 40 some states need to pony up and get with the 21st century.

And I haven't heard of my legislature doing anything in..... a long time. Oh, and that guy's an ass. I mean, let's make sure no one changes policy to make sure gays are treated equally, give me a break. Guy should find a new job and stop embarrassing my state.

Gay marriage but not gay camping? LOL

 

[Perknose]

He would prefer they stay in one tent? Doesn't he know what they're DOING in there? D:

Oh he does, he does! You've heard of the Log Cabin Republicans? Well, he wants to be a Tent Pole Republican, and keep all that outdoor happiness under one big tent!

He's already pitched his!

 

[Perknose]

Gay marriage but not gay camping? LOL

Gays are putting the camp back in campground! Now, quick, help me get mine erect, it can accommodate up to four campers at once!

 

[werepossum]

gays are putting the camp back in campground! Now, quick, help me get mine erect, it can accommodate up to four campers at once!

lol

 

[SlickSnake]

I will fight for the right to plant my hard tent pole wherever, however and whenever I like!

I'll give you my hard tent pole when you take it from my cold, dead hands!

Damn straight Republitards better stay out of the damn gay campgrounds or they will get turned into Demokrauts at night against their will and with no bear fat grease!!!

 

[SlickSnake]

Oh he does, he does! You've heard of the Log Cabin Republicans? Well, he wants to be a Tent Pole Republican, and keep all that outdoor happiness under one big tent!

He's already pitched his!

L:biggrin:L! This is damn near sig worthy. Thanks!

 

[ShawnD1]

He would prefer they stay in one tent? Doesn't he know what they're DOING in there? D:

That's why he supports it :awe:

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Hey, we have gay marriage here in Iowa, I think the other 40 some states need to pony up and get with the 21st century.

And I haven't heard of my legislature doing anything in..... a long time. Oh, and that guy's an ass. I mean, let's make sure no one changes policy to make sure gays are treated equally, give me a break. Guy should find a new job and stop embarrassing my state.

No we don't. We have a court ruling that overstepped it's authority. There is no legislation on the books(IE. no law) codifying gay marriage here. Yes, it's kind of a semantics thing, but a very important distinction especially in light of the issue in the OP. Changing the camping code thing without first having legislation defining such things will just cause more problems in the future.

Meh, stay blind if you wish...

 

[StageLeft]

Thank God somebody has the courage to deal with this 800 lb gorilla, the most pressing issue of our time previously hidden away from the limelight, festering in the background but on everybody's mind. I commend it!

 

[BoberFett]

"Conservatives" have become a parody of themselves.

 

[palehorse]

what a waste of f'n time...

btw, I laughed at the bolded sentence too!

 

[Lemon law]

Well, someone has to make the distinction, are they gay or straight?

If you live in a house, at least we have laws against peeping Tom's looking into our bedrooms, but its ever so much easier in public campgrounds. Its a tough job, but it looks like Sen. Merlin Bartz has volunteered. Pay him minimum wage because he is not worth more, issue him a badge but we can't let him safely have a gun, and let him enforce the Bartz rules. And after some enraged mostly straight people beat the crap out of him for being a peeping Tom, he may go home, stay at home, and mercifully shut his mouth, thereby reducing noise pollution and the public park enjoyment experience.

 

[kage69]

Wow. Not much to do over in the Corn Patch it seems...


This guy Bartz strikes me as another busybody homophobe who will someday himself be caught *cough* spearfishing for the one eyed trouser trout.