Big Government...No good

Dear Iowa government, we would like you to reduce the size of your grip over my life. I know you feel presure from the left to spend, spend, spend, and than take away my rights, but you know, it would not be cool. In fact, please try your hardest to stay out of my life.

Iowa lawmakers are unlikely to ban smoking in the workplace or prohibit teen drivers from using cell phones.

Proposed laws requiring the registration of beer kegs and banning the sale or rental of violent movies to minors also appear to have reached a dead end in the Legislature.

Scores of bills are about to fall by the wayside this week — roughly the midpoint of the 2006 session — as the Legislature winnows its workload in an effort to adjourn by the middle of April.