NEW WEAPON IN WAR ON METH

Iowans will soon find it harder to buy cold and allergy medicine
containing pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in making
methamphetamine.

Gov. Tom Vilsack signed into law new restrictions on the drug, making
them available only at pharmacies for all but small quantities.

Some Iowa lawmakers had appeared unwilling to pass the restrictions at
the beginning of the session. They ultimately approved them without a
single "no" vote.

"This is an important, significant step," Vilsack said at the bill
signing. "It's one of the most significant steps we've taken. But
there's a lot more work that has to be done."

Vilsack's next hurdle in his war on meth will be convincing the Iowa
Legislature that it should mandate insurance coverage for substance
abuse treatment, an idea he favors.

The Iowa House has passed insurance mandates for treatment of mental
illness, but stopped short of making employers offer insurance plans
that cover drug treatment, with critics saying it is too expensive.

"Awesome" casino projects: The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission got
its first look at the 10 proposed riverboat casinos. Project
developers and community leaders made their cases for one of a handful
of gaming licenses expected to be handed out in May.

The proposals ranged from riverboats with themes honoring Iowa's
agricultural heritage to a casino and golf resort near the city of
Riverside.

Whatever communities get the commission's blessing hope for an
economic boost of millions of dollars in tourism and other revenues.

Commission chairwoman Diane Hamilton was impressed with the
proposals.

"All the presentations are just awesome," Hamilton
said.

The five-member commission will take a two-day bus tour in April to
look at the proposed sites. A final vote on which projects will get
state gaming licenses is scheduled for May 11.

Grassley on 2008: U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley wouldn't predict which
fellow Republican might earn the party's presidential nomination in
2008.

But Grassley is making a prediction that Sen. Hillary Clinton will be
the Democrats' pick. He didn't mention Iowa's Democratic Gov. Tom
Vilsack, who many predict will jump into the presidential race in 2008.

Republicans have committed to starting their nominating process in
Iowa in 2008.

Grassley, Iowa's top elected Republican, said he won't pick a favorite
until the summer of 2007. He said he's only had one Republican senator
talk to him about running so far.