Congressman Steve King has introduced legislation that seeks to forbid the federal courts from hearing same-sex marriage cases. “I wish our founding fathers might have named that Supreme Court something other than supreme,” King said. King plans to be at the Supreme Court today (Tuesday) as it hears arguments in a case that could make same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.

“Now we have a Supreme Court that thinks, ‘Oh, it’s no problem. We can redefine marriage,'” King said. “We just do that because we’re the Supreme Court, after all.'” King cites the 1857 Dred Scott decision as evidence the nation’s highest court is sometimes wrong on social issues of the day. “It said that African Americans…could never be citizens of the United States — a Supreme Court decision,” King said. “They decided that congress could not ban slavery.”

King calls his bill the “Restrain the Judges on Marriage Act of 2015.” King also warns the federal courts were created by congress and they can be abolished by congress, too, with just the U.S. Supreme Court remaining. “Down to the Supreme Court that doesn’t have to be nine judges, seven judges, five judges or three,” King says. “It could be reduced to the chief justice of the supreme court at his own card table, with his own candle, working pro bono. That’s all it takes to have the minimum amount in the Constitution.”

King says the U.S. Supreme Court should not have the “final answer” on marriage and there is “no way” he is going to accept a decision that legalizes same-sex marriage in all 50 states. “Marriage is at stake and the arguments before this court may well determine the future of this country,” King says. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the same-sex marriage case is likely to be released in June. Federal judges have thus far struck down same-sex marriage bans in 22 states. Same-sex marriage bans remain in effect in 13 other states.

Iowa is among the 15 states where same-sex marriage is legal either by a state court’s decision or because state legislators have enacted laws allowing it.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An eastern Iowa man who pleaded guilty to robbing two Cedar Rapids banks four separate times has been sentenced to 31 years in federal prison. Twenty-nine-year-old Javon Dockery, of Cedar Rapids, was sentenced on four counts of bank robbery and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. As part of his plea, Dockery admitted to robbing a Cedar Rapids branch of U.S. Bank in April and June 2014. He also admitted to robbing a Cedar Rapids branch of Guaranty Bank twice in May.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The daughter of former NBA player Scottie Pippen has been arrested on allegations that she urinated in an Iowa City hotel lobby. The Iowa City Police Department says 20-year-old Sierra Pippen was arrested about 1:30 a.m. Sunday at the Sheraton Iowa City Hotel on a charge of public intoxication. A police complaint says an officer reported Pippen smelling of alcohol and having impaired speech and balance in a walkway near the hotel. She refused a preliminary alcohol screening. Pippen is an undergraduate student at the University of Iowa.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Sioux City man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with a bank robbery. Twenty-two-year-old Jonathan Birdnecklace was sentenced after pleading guilty to second-degree robbery. He has been ordered to serve a minimum of seven years before he is eligible for parole and pay $200 in restitution to Great Southern Bank in Sioux City.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A Mason City cement company has received several citations from a federal agency following safety inspections conducted in March. Lehigh Cement Company in Mason City was issued 24 citations for violations of the Mine Act, which prioritizes the health and safety of employees in coal or other mining industries. Lehigh Cement Company produces cement and construction materials in the U.S. and Canada.

Deputies with the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by members of the U-S Marshals Service, officers with the 4th Judicial District Adult Probation and Iowa DCI, conducted a Sex Offender Registry Compliance Check last week in Pottawattamie County. During the event which took place April 20th and April 21st, a total of 216 Registered Sex Offenders were checked.

Further investigations into potential criminal charges for failing to update information and/or violations were found on five separate offenders. Of the five investigations, two are not considered criminal, however they will be referred to the Iowa Department of Human Services for follow up. Two arrests were also made.

Officials say 24-year old Andrew Lewis Mallory, and 46-year old Eric Bryan Stites, both of Council Bluffs, were arrested and charged with Failure to Comply with the Sex Offender Registry, after failing to appear for a quarterly verification of relevant information. For Stites, it was his second offense, which is a Class D Felony. A first offense, as in the case of Mallory, is considered an Aggravated Misdemeanor.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. On Friday, 28-year old Andre Philip Sabatine, of Avoca, was arrested on a district court warrant for Probation Violation. Sabatine was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on $5,000 bond.
And on Sunday, 44-year old David Joseph Freund, of Wiota, was arrested on a charge of OWI 1st Offense. Freund was taken to the Cass County Jail where he was released later that day on his own recognizance.