Dive Summary:
- The Iowa Senate rejected two of Gov. Terry Branstad's nominees for the state Board of Regents Monday following intense debates on gay rights and academic freedom.
- Robert Cramer and Craig Lang would have each needed at least 34 votes for approval, but Cramer only received 27 while Lang got 30.
- The two men, both Republicans, were both criticized by Democrats for their approaches to academic freedom, with Cramer's allegedly hostile views toward gay and lesbian rights also coming in to play.
From the article:
... Cramer, a former chairman of the Family Leader, a social conservative group, was criticized by Democrats for holding views hostile to the rights of gays and lesbians and for his stances on academic freedom while he served on the Johnston School Board.
Lang, a former president of the Iowa Farm Bureau, was criticized by Democrats as not being supportive of academic freedom at Iowa State University. He also no doubt suffered from a controversy involving a decision by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin to reverse his decision to donate his congressional papers to Iowa State. ...