METH BILL CAN RETURN AFTER BOYCOTT

INDIANAPOLIS -- Among the bills that died when House Democrats boycotted
business in that chamber last week was a measure intended to curb the
spread of methamphetamine across Indiana.

In all, about 130 bills died. Many of them would have made largely
administrative changes in laws that nobody gets too excited about. Some of
them would have made controversial changes that have opponents and proponents.

Others, like the meth bill, are easy to single out as victims of the
Democrats' action. It's easy for critics to say that Democrats cared more
about politics than issues like meth.

And certainly the meth legislation is important -- to lawmakers, to law
enforcement officials trying to deal with this scourge and to communities,
including Crothersville, where police say 10-year-old Katie Collman died
after witnessing meth activity.

But the meth bill is among those that can easily be revived.

Not the bill itself. The boycott meant that the bill didn't pass by a
deadline for action. And unless two-thirds of lawmakers now vote to suspend
the rules -- unlikely in this case -- the bill won't pass.

The bill's language, however, can be easily resurrected.

Already, the Indiana Senate has passed a bill that also aims to curb meth.

There are some differences between the proposals. Both are aimed at most
cough and cold medicines, which contain pseudoephedrine, an ingredient that
can be used to easily make meth.

In general, the Senate voted to restrict how much cough medicine a customer
can purchase at any one time. The Senate bill also places restrictions on
how the medicine can be displayed and gives stores options for supervising
that area of the store.

The House bill would have required that cough and cold medicine be kept
behind the pharmacy counter. It would not have restricted the amount a
customer could buy but it still was considered a stricter proposal.

That's because lots of stores that sell over-the-counter medicines
containing pseudoephedrine don't have pharmacies. Some grocery stores,
convenience stores and truck stops sell these drugs now -- but wouldn't be
allowed to under the House proposal.

Supporters say states that have been successful fighting meth have had
similar laws.

A compromise likely will be hashed out between House and Senate leaders as
the session draws to a close in April. They may or may not be able to agree
on a final plan.

But if they don't, the death last week of the House bill won't be to blame.

Lesley Stedman Weidenbener's column appears on Sundays.