One of the really fun things we get to experience at the Capitol is the special music performances of various occasions.  I am writing this on St. Patrick’s Day and our day began by being serenaded with live Irish music.  During the last song we had the privilege of seeing a traditional Irish dance performed by a great Irish lady, Representative Delores Mertz.  Of course there were Irish treats as well as a great deal of weain’ o’ the green.

I feel really good about some of the things we were able to accomplish in the House this week.  We passed out SF 71, which allocates $250,000 from the Environment First Fund to give the Secretary of Agriculture.  The purpose of the funding is to authorize the reimbursement of the County Soil and Conservation Commissioner expenses.

The instigation for this legislation (SF 71 and HF 162) was action taken by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) last summer that did not allocate from its state funding any money for commissioners’ expenses.  The denial in funding was due in part to differing unofficial legal opinions provided to the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture that made her uneasy as to whether funding the commissioners’ expenses from the enacted allocations complied with the accompanying intent language that allowed anywhere from 5 to 10% of the cost-share appropriations to be used for administration and implementation of soil and water conservation practices. 

I am also pleased that the House passed HCR 1, the Iowa State Constitutional Amendment resolution which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman.  This passed 54-44, but faces an uncertain future in the Senate.

The final issue we passed this week is what has come to be known as the “meth bill.”  SF 169 places restrictions on the purchase and sale of all products containing pseudoephedrine, a popular and widely available decongestant.  The bill requires that most pseudoephedrine products be classified as a Schedule V controlled substance.  Small dosage products (up to 360 milligrams) that are in liquid or liquid filled capsule form will still be available to be sold in other retail outlets such as grocery and convenience stores.  In addition, the bill prohibits a person from purchasing more than 7,500 milligrams of pseudoephedrine in a 30 day period, unless they have a valid prescription. 

The bill also contains certain restriction on the ability of an arrested person to post bail to be released from jail.  Once released, these persons will be placed on supervision until trial.  Hopefully this compromise will effectively limit the access criminals have to pseudoephedrine without undue limitation on law-abiding citizens.

Question of the Week…

We will soon be debating the Iowa Values Fund on the House floor.  There has been much controversy over where the funds should come from.  Do you support the State of Iowa committing expected revenue from (currently) unapproved casinos to fund the Iowa Values Fund?

I would appreciate your input.  My phone number at the Capitol is 515-281-3221, or e-mail me at blocked::mailto:bdeboef@legis.state.ia.us.  I would welcome visitors at the Capitol, too!