Is it appropriate for the Legislator to "punish" the Judicial, or even the Executive, branch because of a disagreement in what is right or wrong? Is it appropriate to target only specific justices instead of applying the salary cut to all of the justices? I wonder if some of the legislators are holding on to this issue for longer than needed? The Varnum v. Brien decision was over four years ago, yet legislators are still trying to "punish" the justices for that decision.

Justia columnist and Cornell law professor Sherry Colb comments on a discrimination case in which the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center fired a Customer Service Representative, Sakile S. Chenzira, for refusing to get a seasonal flu vaccine, in contravention of hospital policy.

In case anyone is interested in reading or listening to the oral arguments in Hollingsworth v. Perry.

We've seen similar scenarios in the past, events in which the massive financial power of multi-national corporations is able to buy out legislators who were elected to 'represent' voters. But now, Monsanto has set the bar even higher.

"In Iowa, gay couples have been able to get legally married since 2009, when the state's supreme court upheld a lower court ruling striking down a gay marriage ban. But the Iowa Department of Public Health has refused to grant birth certificates that list both spouses in a gay marriage as the legal parents of newborn children. That decision has left families in legal limbo, and it led to a lawsuit that has thrust the gay rights debate right back to the state's supreme court." I'm interested in hearing what the Iowa Supreme Court says about this. I also wonder how the three new justices will vote. This is the first major issue concerning gay marriage after three Iowa Supreme Court Justices lost their positions in 2010 and were replaced.

An interesting look at how gay marriage is still a battle in Iowa.

I find it interesting that an organization as 'pro-gay' as the ACLU would defend someone that got in trouble for wearing an 'anti-gay' shirt. I think that this is an interesting case showing that the ACLU stands by their principle of defending anyones right to free speech, even if they disagree.

Citizens United, the conservative group that successfully sued to enable wealthy corporations to buy elections, also has it in for same-sex couples.

What do you all think about this proposed amendment?

"Iowa has always been at the forefront of civil rights issues. And although Iowa is located in the heart of middle America, it has always been more progressive than most of the states in the Union. Here are some examples:"

Question: What do George Clooney, Chaka Khan, the American Medical Association, Bon Jovi and C. Everett Koop have in common?

In a new report, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) proclaims that American adults are receiving vaccinations for whooping cough, shingles, and pneumonia at "unacceptably low" rates.

(CNN) -- The Boy Scouts of America is considering changing its longstanding policy against allowing openly gay members, according to a release from the organization. The organization, which has 2.7 million members, is "potentially discussing" doing away with its policy after months of nationwide protest, including hundreds of angry Eagle scouts renouncing their hard-earned awards and mailing back their red-white-and-blue medals.

Grayson your statement that gay people usually aren't religious isn't necessarily true. http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/13-culture/282-spiritual-profile-of-homosexual-adults-provides-surprising-insights This link shows that, while they may not be as religious as heterosexuals, gay men and women are still religious people. Religion is an extremely personal thing for people and everyone can read a religious text and come out with different interpretations. Going back to the Boy Scouts, they are a private organization that a person is asking to join. Although I disagree with their current policies I feel that it is their right to make those policies if they would like. However, with diminishing membership and corporate sponsorship because of some of these policies they may have to reevaluate them as time goes on like they are doing now. What's interesting is that the Boy Scouts of America is one of the few members of the World Scouting movement that has a ban on Homosexuals. The equivalent programs in Canada and a majority of Europe do not have such bans and they have no issue with homosexual scouts making a commitment to God.

The U.S. military is ending its policy of excluding women from combat and will open combat jobs and direct combat units to female troops, CNN has learned. Multiple officials confirm to CNN that Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will make the announcement tomorrow and notify Congress of the planned change in policy.

University of Iowa journalism professor Lyombe Eko said the court "has given protection to people who are bullied on the Internet, the victims of smears or lies or accusations posted on Facebook and Twitter." People will be able to sue the attacker, but not the company that hosts the site where the statements are posted, he said.

Gun laws have been back in the media recently due, largely, to the horrific events at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012 which claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults. In response President Obama has just unveiled gun control proposals. In light of this growing focus on gun legislation, some have expressed concern about the possibility of guns being manufactured in the home using 3D-printing technology (also known as "additive manufacturing" or AM).

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - In the wake of the Newton, Conn., school shooting that left 20 children and seven adults dead polls show public support for stricter gun control at a 10-year high. However, gun rights advocates say they will push the Iowa Legislature to expand gun rights and abolish gun-free zones, including schools.

Washington (CNN) -- Alcohol-related car crashes kill about 10,000 people each year in the United States and law enforcement wants more flexibility to determine whether a suspected drunk driver is, indeed, over the limit. But the Supreme Court was clearly divided in oral arguments on Wednesday about whether police can obtain a blood test without a warrant to determine intoxication levels.

Washington (CNN) -- Inside an ordinary office building six blocks from the Capitol, investigators sift through evidence of possible violations against ethics and laws committed by the nation's elected representatives. This is the Office of Congressional Ethics, also known as the OCE. It is one of the most important watchdogs in Washington.

The Westboro Baptist Church, the controversial group known for protesting outside funerals of slain U.S. service members, announced that it will picket a vigil for the victims of Friday's Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, the second-deadliest school shooting in American history.