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Legislative update from Rep. Sharon Steckman

From Representative Sharon Steckman –

Sharon Steckman
Sharon Steckman
I was thrilled to be able to attend the Mohawks girls’ basketball game at Wells Fargo Arena on Tuesday evening.

What a game! When I mentioned my support for the team on the floor Tuesday morning, I was quickly answered by Representative Nancy Dunkel from Dubuque. You can see the friendly exchange on my Facebook page.

Bills are slowly – very slowly – coming out of committees and placed on the Debate Calendar. We have spent some time “debating” this week, but it has been mostly non-controversial bills that have been brought to the floor. Non-partisan bills are usually 90% of what we do.

Next week, we will arrive at another funnel date, one on which all bills that have been sent over from the Senate must be out of committee. After that, unless they have funding or spending attached to them, they are dead .

I mentioned previously that we have been visited frequently by Iowans who are advocating for medical marijuana – cannabidoil. Their stories are heartbreaking. A Des Moines Register poll taken this week reported that 78% of Iowans favor the use of medical marijuana for those whom doctors deem it would help. HF 2384 addresses this issue.

After a hearing in the Commerce Committee, the bill was passed – unfortunately, however, with amendments that would limit the diseases for which it could be prescribed. Now, it sits in the Ways and Means committee and I cannot say at this point that it will even be brought up for discussion because the chair of the committee, Representative Tom Sands, is opposed.

I believe that there are drugs on the market that are potentially much more harmful and do not do as much good. Cannabidoil is non-addictive and has no known side effects. Why can’t we pass this bill when doctors and patients have movingly testified to its worth in pain and seizure relief? It is the compassionate thing to do…and there is no logical reason not to.

Another issue that I am very concerned about is the move to strip designated monies from the schools in order to divert it to water quality. My hope is that we don’t have to choose one or the other. We can do both without “robbing Peter to pay Paul”.

On Wednesday, we thought we had an agreement on school funding for 2017; however negotiations fell through. Again, I am hopeful we can come to an agreement next week.

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