Senate must move on boat motor bill

Improve the quality of many Iowans' lives by supporting Senate File 54.

The legacy of Lake Macbride is one of restricting a significant portion of people who fish in Iowa with the 10-horsepower motor size limitations in effect during the summer months.

There is SF54 sitting in study committee under the Natural Resources Commission. This subcommittee has taken no action on this bill since January 2011. The same bill was passed by the Iowa House during the last session. It is unacceptable that this bill has been buried by the Legislature for more than 20 years.

Each time it has been introduced, it has never reached the Senate floor. There is nothing mysterious or complicated about the proposed change. Objections originate from only those living on the cottage reserve. During a study committee last Nov. 3, an incredible comment/objection was from Rep. Mary Mascher. She objected on the premise that Macbride differed from Big Creek Lake near Des Moines because of safety, saying Lake Macbride has “blind corners.”

I remind Mascher we are proposing a year-round “no wake” rule that could maximize boat speed at say 5 miles per hour!

I would urge the NRC to send SF54 to the Senate for a ratification vote in the best interests of all Iowa people who fish.

Joseph Carpenter

Cedar Rapids