Drama unfolded at the Iowa Capitol this morning, as hundreds of anti-gay marriage activists swarmed the House gallery after an 8:30 a.m. prayer rally on the steps outside.

Once the activists, organized by the Iowa Family Policy Center, had moved into the gallery, Republican House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen made two motions.  First, he attempted to invoke Rule 77, which requires House members to remain in the chambers, preventing them from “taking a walk” if a tough vote comes up.

Confusion ensued.  Paulsen then attempted to invoke Rule 60, which allows a majority vote on the floor of the House to pull a bill out of a committee even if the committee has not approved it.

Currently, the House’s resolution to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage, House Joint Resolution 6, is stalled in the State Government Committee.  Paulsen had hoped to bring it up for a vote anyway.

After a tense half hour in the well on the House floor, Democratic House Speaker Pat Murphy ruled both of Paulsen’s motions out of order.  The protesters chanted “Let us vote” before they began to leave.

Find more at Bleeding Heartland, Radio Iowa, and the Des Moines Register.