WASHINGTON — Southeast Iowa’s drug issues have not subsided since the passage of the state’s pseudoephedrine law. And cuts over the last few years to local drug task forces further complicated their efforts.
But U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack said the recently passed stimulus package (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) by the House of Representatives includes a $3 billion national investment in Byrne-JAG to meet shortfalls in law enforcement funding.
The Second District congressman told the Courier that the money, if approved in the Senate’s version of the stimulus package, is needed by local drug task forces to curb drug activity.
Loebsack said in 2007 alone, Iowa seized illegal drugs valued at more than $31 million and netted more than 2,000 criminal convictions. The state’s drug task forces also shut down 363 meth labs during that time.
“Well here’s the thing, I’ve been working on this since I (arrived) in Congress,” he said. “Last year, about two-thirds of the funding was cut.”
He said there is bi-partisan support for Byrne-JAG because Congress recognizes the costly implications without the funding.
“It’s important from an economic standpoint; the cutback on funding meant cuts in the number of officers,” Loebsack said.
As far as the whole stimulus package, the second-term Democrat said while there are certain parts of the bill that he disagrees with, the “vast majority is absolutely necessary.
“The bottom line is this was much more positive than negative,” Loebsack said, adding he believes the stimulus package will save jobs and create new jobs.
The congressman said he knows that while the Senate will surely make changes to the House version of the bill, he believes in the end a solid plan will be crafted and ultimately signed by President Obama.
“I think this will be very good for the people of Iowa,” he said.
Jeff Hutton can be reached at (641) 683-5380 or via e-mail at jeff@ottumwacourier.com
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Loebsack: Stimulus needed to curb drug activity
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