Iowa governor ruled out of bounds.

Iowa governor Tom Vi]sack has suffered a legal defeat in his year-plus battle with the Republican-led state legislature. A district judge ruled December 7 that Vilsack overstepped his authority in September 1999 when he issued an executive order prohibiting discrimination against gays, lesbians, and transgendered people in state employment.

As soon as the governor signed the order, it unleashed a backlash from GOP legislators, who even passed a law nullifying the governor's action. He in turn vetoed the new law. In response, the Republican legislators took the matter to court, choosing as their lawyer the man Vilsack defeated in 1998 for the Democratic nomination for governor.

In a prepared statement, Vilsack said he is reviewing the ruling and has not yet decided whether he will appeal.