DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A southwest Iowa lawmaker has stopped participating in the legislative session, saying he’s too busy working on his farm.  Sen. Hubert Houser hasn’t cast a vote on the Senate floor since March 4th.  Houser, a Republican who has served 22 years in the House and Senate, says he asked GOP leaders for a light load this session, which will be his last. They obliged, and Houser says he now doesn’t have much to do at the Legislature, other than vote on bills making it to the Senate floor.

Because Democrats are in the majority, Houser tells The Des Moines Register his vote makes little difference.  Houser says he’s busy on his farm, where his family is building new livestock facilities.  Houser says he’s “more than ready to move on.”