If it were a person, it would be on life-support. That’s how one state Senator describes the bill which would deregulate Iowa’s electric utility industry. Senate Commerce Committee chairman John Jensen says support continues to slip away.Senate Democrat Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs is a member of the Commerce Committee, which may debate the bill today. He says the bill is in a difficult circumstance with lots of doubts and says the opportunity to pass the bill is fading.Another Commerce Committee member, Senator John Redwine of Sioux City gives the bill this prognosis. He says the bill is ailing, but not in critical condition yet.Lawmakers are struggling to strike a deal on the bill, and most hold out only dim hope for its prospects.
