Statewide Iowa — A Republican lawmaker who is not seeking re-election is urging colleagues who’ll return next year to make another try at passing a “Second Chances” bill.
State Representative Terry Baxter of Garner says the bill would establish a list of guidelines for when Iowa governors have the power to release inmates who’ve been sentenced to life in prison.
Iowa governors have the general authority to commute, or shorten, life sentences, but rarely do. Baxter, who is an ordained minister, considers the “Second Chances” bill a piece of unfinished business as he ends his eight year career in the Iowa House.
Baxter made his comments this week during a farewell speech on the House floor. In 2010, Baxter co-founded a non-profit group called GoServ Global that provides aid to disaster stricken areas with missions underway today in central America and Africa. Baxter says he’s retiring from the legislature to devote the majority of his time to the group.
