Who needs the Iowa Legislature? With its upper chamber split 25-25, it really is an inefficient way to create a progressive program that may actually help Iowans.

Of course, anarchy isn’t a productive means of accomplishing goals, but when the Legislature isn’t needed, bypass it — which is exactly what the Iowa Board of Pharmacy Examiners did when it decided to move ahead with a drug-tracking plan balked at by the Iowa Senate.

The list is progressive, but is by no means innovative. Half the states already implemented the technique. It would allow pharmacies to create lists of who purchased addictive prescription drugs, such as pain killers, and also to monitor purchases of pseudoephedrine, a methamphetamine ingredient only substitutable by ephedrine.

Unfortunately, the registry has a hint of the “Big Brother” feel, but unlike accessing library checkout records, this oversight program actually helps by allowing doctors or pharmacists to flag patients obtaining unhealthy levels of pain killers. Police could potentially use the list to see who is purchasing large amounts of pseudoephedrine, although they cannot access the list without a warrant.

Pursuing the program is also a money issue, because if it isn’t established by the end of 2005, the state would lose the $350,000 provided in a federal grant.

Senators and some doctors voiced opposition to the pharmacy board’s proactive approach to making the registry. Some concerned doctors fear their prescription practices will come under scrutiny because the list will track the patients’ doctors.

Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, a leader in stifling the proposed registry in the Senate, called the board’s action “inappropriate,” according to The Des Moines Register. Hatch originally opposed the plan because he didn’t think money was available to protect the listing from hackers.

Both issues can be solved through “don’t be dumb” methods. For the medical practitioners, as long as their prescriptions are an appropriate level, they have nothing to fear. As for hacking, if it can’t be completely prevented, make it useless to hack by not including information like Social Security numbers.

The pharmacy board should be applauded for its efforts to follow through with the registry because of its ability to prevent and hopefully deter addiction to pain killers, or on a larger scale, methamphetamine. Lawmakers showed they are tough on drugs this year by making pseudoephedrine only available through pharmacies. Next session it needs to provide money for the registry to keep it going. Make it so.