Source: Des Moines Register (IA) Copyright: 1999, The Des Moines Register Website: http://www.dmregister.com/ Contact: 26 Jan 1999 Author: Register Staff Report Note: Headline by MAP Editor 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Mike Gogulski