Legislation should be crafted by experts

If you needed auto repair, would you call a plumber? If you needed farming advice, would you contact a Harvard professor? Perhaps you have a broken leg. Would you call the local coffee shop owner for advice? Of course not.

Then why does our governor rely on out-of-state political groups to craft Iowa legislation? How can some out-of-state organization propose Iowa legislation when the center of their proposals isn't what's best for Iowa citizens, but best for their own political agendas?

Instead of simply accepting and voting for boilerplate legislation, shouldn't we expect our duly elected legislators to seek out advice from experts who know Iowa and its systems and needs? If the governor introduces legislation, shouldn't proper time be allowed for the Legislature to read and study it?

Without proper study, seeking out expert advice, and doing what's best for Iowa, the end result can be legislation that doesn't fit, has unintended consequences, worsens a problem, costs more, causes further damage or tries to fix something that doesn't need fixing. Iowans know who to go to for auto repair, farming advice and mending a broken leg.

Heaping up the legislative plate with questionable content fills some people's desire to avoid dealing with Iowa's real problems. I vote to ban rubber stamps and misleading Iowans and vote to tackle some of Iowa's real problems. I'll raise a glass of Iowa water to that.

Karen Carlton

Waukon