Impact of legislative session examined

What did the 2000 Iowa Legislature do to and for you? If you’re a woman with an insurance policy which covers prescription drugs, that policy now covers contraceptives like the pill. Senator Jo Ann Johnson, a republican from Adel, was a key backer of the bill which forced that change, and calls it one of the best bills the legislature passed.If you go boating, make sure the boat’s captain doesn’t tip too many, as Iowa has a new drunken boating law with penalties similar to drunken driving. Bill Sanders of Des Moines lobbied lawmakers hard on the issue. Sanders wife, Dona, died in an accident caused by a drunken boater. If you’re driving toward a railroad crossing, keep this in mind. A new Iowa law has doubled the penalty for failing to obey a railroad crossing signal — and the penalty for racing a train has been quadrupled. Representative Todd Taylor of Cedar Rapids sponsored the bill. He says increasing the penalties will hopefully increase the awareness.Iowans who are accused of torturing animals will face tougher penalties as a result of a bill which cleared the 2000 Legislature. Governor Tom Vilsack will sign the bill into law this week.The single-most important pocket-book issue of the year is that “Tax Freedom Weekend” in August in which you can buy clothing and shoes without paying sales taxes on your purchases.