Governor Tom Vilsack of Iowa is exploring whether he can skirt a Senate panel's vote and install an openly gay lawyer to the state education board despite a narrow rejection of the appointment following a divisive two-day debate in the state capital.
 
The Senate Education Committee voted, 24 to 22, against the appointment of Jonathan Wilson, a contract and real estate lawyer at one of Iowa's top firms who previously served on the Des Moines school board before a defeat in 1995 after admitting he was gay. Three Republicans joined 19 Democrats Tuesday in favor of Wilson's appointment. All of the no votes were cast by Republicans.

“One has to ask the question: Who's next?” Wilson said in an interview after the vote. “Will it be the Jews because they're not Christian? Will it be the Catholics because they're not Protestant? I believe it is an example of grown-up bullying and name-calling that we see on school playgrounds.”

(more)