IOWA LAWMAKERS CONSIDER NEW METH LAW

Republican leaders in the House plan to survey their members today to gauge
their support for creating life prison sentences for people who sell
methamphetamine to minors.

Lawmakers are scheduled to discuss the life imprisonment issue and other
proposals during a budget subcommittee meeting today, House Speaker Ron
Corbett, R-Cedar Rapids, said Monday.

Bipartisan unity in the fight against methamphetamine began to fall apart
last week when differences emerged between the plan drafted by lawmakers
and Gov. Tom Vilsack's proposal. Vilsack campaigned on the notion that
people who sell the highly addictive drug to children should be sent to
prison for life, but his plan released last week would have narrowed the
scope of the bill.

Rep. Chuck Larson, a Cedar Rapids Republican and chairman of the Judiciary
Committee, said he favors a broader life imprisonment bill that would apply
to anyone who sells meth to minors. The life imprisonment bill debated in
the House, he said, will not include the manufacturing component included
in Vilsack's version. But people who make meth will face other tough
penalties, he said.

Gov. Tom Vilsack is scheduled to present his budget message to the State
Legislature at a joint meeting of the Iowa House and Senate at 10 a.m.
Thursday in the House chambers.

The Democrat has outlined many proposals, but among the issues still
outstanding are what taxes he will propose cutting. He has already laid out
a number of proposals on issues ranging from education to methamphetamine
abuse.