HOUSE BACKS METH CRACKDOWN

Tougher Penalties, New Law-enforcement Tools Win Approval

Iowa lawmakers, alarmed by a methamphetamine crime wave, voted Tuesday to
mete out harsher penalties for drug dealers and users.

The House gave lopsided approval to proposals that include stiffer
penalties for repeat offenders of drug possession laws; enforcement of
mandatory minimum sentences for meth dealers; and new law enforcement tools
to nab drug-using motorists.

Members of the House Republican majority, who assembled the package of
proposals, said it would provide the state with more powerful weapons in
its war on drugs.

"Our judicial system ... is something of a turnstile. The drug dealers
come in one courthouse door and they come out the other in a short time,"
said Rep. Chuck Larson, R-Cedar Rapids. "This legislation is going to put
meth dealers in prison."

Rep. Jeffrey Lamberti, R-Ankeny, said the measures send a strong message to
people manufacturing or peddling meth that Iowa is not a good place to do
business.

Most House Democrats voted for the legislation, even though some said the
Republicans were offering a simplistic solution to a complex problem that
requires more drug-abuse prevention and treatment efforts.

"What I see is a continuation of the philosophy that if we push the
penalties high enough, we'll scare (drug dealers) off. Folks, we haven't
scared them off," said House Minority Leader David Schrader, D-Monroe.

Rep. Wayne Ford, D-Des Moines, one of three lawmakers who opposed the bill,
said its new law enforcement provisions could be used by police to harass
members of minority groups.

Under one proposal, similar to legislation approved by the Senate earlier
in the session, Iowa's drunken-driving laws would be extended to users of
meth or other illicit drugs. The measure would make it easier for
prosecutors to charge drug-impaired drivers.

Other provisions of the anti-drug package adopted by the House include:

Increasing penalties for illegal drug possession. A third offense would be
a felony.

Eliminating a judge's discretion to suspend a mandatory minimum sentence
for meth dealers.

Denying appeal bonds for convicted dealers, so they would have to remain
behind bars while appealing their sentences.

Allowing judges to deny state and federal benefits, such as college student
aid, to convicted users and dealers until they complete a rehabilitiation
program.

The anti-meth provisions were attached to a bill dealing with Iowa's
drunken-driving laws. The revised legislation returns to the Senate for
more debate.

House Republicans and Democrats in recent days have offered rival plans to
combat methamphetamine trafficking in Iowa. Parts of the Democrats' $4
million plan were rejected during debate Tuesday of other bills.

The GOP-controlled House, during a nighttime debate of a justice system
budget bill, defeated a $1.5 million proposal for drug buys and creation a
15-member "meth strike force."

The House Appropriations Committee defeated a Democrat-backed proposal that
would have spent $2.5 million on meth treatment, education and local
law-enforcement efforts. Republicans want to spend a smaller amount of
money on a proposed informant reward program, police undercover purchases
of the drug and educational programs.