Michael Gronstal
Encyclopedia
Michael E. Gronstal is the Iowa
State Senator
representing the 50th District in the Iowa Senate
. He has served since 1985 and is currently the majority leader
and chairman of the Rules and Administration committee. He is also chairman of the DLCC, the national organization to elect Democratic state legislators.
Gronstal has supported efforts to increase renewable fuels
in Iowa and in 2006, Iowa passed the nation’s strongest ethanol
legislation
in 2006. In addition, he is working to bring more biotechnology
jobs and businesses to Iowa. Senator Gronstal has supported legislation to increase funding for community college
s and school district
s. After the Iowa Supreme Court
ruled in favor of gay marriage in the Varnum v. Brien
decision in April 2009, Gronstal blocked a Republican
attempt to overturn the Court's decision with a constitutional amendment
. He released a YouTube
video
in which he declared that opponents of same-sex marriage in Iowa
had already lost because the younger generation does not care about the issue.
Gronstal was re-elected in 2004 with 12,480 votes (54%), defeating Republican opponent Loren Knauss. He won re-election again in 2008 with 58% of the votes.
Gronstal received his B.A.
from Antioch College
. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served one term in the Iowa House of Representatives
. He also served as the chair of the Pottawattamie County
Democratic Party from 1986 to 1988. Senator Gronstal and his wife, Connie, have two daughters: Kate, who is a civil engineer at Schemmer Associates in Council Bluffs; and Sara, who is currently a lecturer at Eastern Illinois University
.
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
State Senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
representing the 50th District in the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
. He has served since 1985 and is currently the majority leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
and chairman of the Rules and Administration committee. He is also chairman of the DLCC, the national organization to elect Democratic state legislators.
Gronstal has supported efforts to increase renewable fuels
Renewable fuels
Renewable fuels are fuels produced from renewable resources. Examples include: biofuels Renewable fuels are fuels produced from renewable resources. Examples include: biofuels Renewable fuels are fuels produced from renewable resources. Examples include: biofuels (eg. Vegetable oil used as fuel,...
in Iowa and in 2006, Iowa passed the nation’s strongest ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
legislation
Legislation
Legislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
in 2006. In addition, he is working to bring more biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
jobs and businesses to Iowa. Senator Gronstal has supported legislation to increase funding for community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
s and school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
s. After the Iowa Supreme Court
Iowa Supreme Court
The Iowa Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Iowa. As constitutional head of the Iowa Judicial Branch, the Court is composed of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices....
ruled in favor of gay marriage in the Varnum v. Brien
Varnum v. Brien
Varnum v. Brien, 763 N.W.2d 862 , is an Iowa court case in which six same-sex couples filed suit against Timothy Brien, Polk County Recorder, for refusing to grant marriage licenses to them...
decision in April 2009, Gronstal blocked a Republican
Republican Party of Iowa
The Republican Party of Iowa is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Iowa. The State Central Committee is led by Chairman Matt Strawn and Co-Chairman Bill Schickel...
attempt to overturn the Court's decision with a constitutional amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
. He released a YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
video
Video
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
in which he declared that opponents of same-sex marriage in Iowa
Same-sex marriage in Iowa
Same-sex marriage in the U.S. state of Iowa became legal on April 3, 2009.Iowa's first dealings with same-sex marriage came in 1998, after recent court cases on same-sex unions, starting in Hawaii, found that denying the right to marry to same-sex couples was incompatible with the Equal Protection...
had already lost because the younger generation does not care about the issue.
Gronstal was re-elected in 2004 with 12,480 votes (54%), defeating Republican opponent Loren Knauss. He won re-election again in 2008 with 58% of the votes.
Gronstal received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
. Prior to serving in the Senate, he served one term in the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
. He also served as the chair of the Pottawattamie County
Pottawattamie County, Iowa
Pottawattamie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 93,158 in the 2010 census, an increase from 87,704 in the 2000 census and is the second largest county by area in Iowa. The Pottawattamie county seat is located at Council Bluffs. It is one of three Iowa...
Democratic Party from 1986 to 1988. Senator Gronstal and his wife, Connie, have two daughters: Kate, who is a civil engineer at Schemmer Associates in Council Bluffs; and Sara, who is currently a lecturer at Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University
Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1895 as the Eastern Illinois State Normal School, a teacher's college offering a two-year degree, Eastern Illinois University gradually expanded into a comprehensive university with a...
.
External links
- Senator Michael E. Gronstal official Iowa Legislature site
- Senator Michael E. Gronstal official Iowa General Assembly site
- State Senator Mike Gronstal official constituency site