Wednesday was a difficult day for The American Independent News Network, which is the larger entity that operates The Iowa Independent. Our chief executive and founder announced two of our sister sites would close and their content would be moved to The American Independent.
A recently introduced bill could have far-reaching impact on the U.S. sugar industry, including American Crystal Sugar, a farmer-owned cooperative that locked out 1,300 Midwest workers on Aug. 1.
The chairman for Herman Cain’s Iowa effort says the campaign “relied more on the word of farmers than Washington regulators” in deciding to run an ad containing claims the Environmental Protection Agency says are false.
The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
Gov. Chet Culver announced today that he is calling for 6.5 percent cut in most state programs for the 2010 budget year.
Gov. Chet Culver will release the details of his proposed budget later this week.
“While the current economic circumstance is not the fault of Iowans, it is something we must all face together,” Culver said. “We have a history, under both Democratic and Republican leadership, of balancing our budget and acting appropriately to tough economic times.”
Areas such as public safety, workforce development, human services, disaster relief, the teacher quality program and early childhood education will not see the full effect of the cuts. All told, the proposed cuts would apply to 205 state programs.
Culver, who officially announced his plan during a speech to the annual meeting of the Iowa Business Council, is also calling for legislators to use $200 million from the state’s cash reserves during the 2010 budget year.
Culver has already made cuts for this fiscal year 2009. In December, he made selective cuts of $40 million. On Jan. 1, a 1.5 percent across-the-board cut that saved the state about $90 million went into effect.
Legislators are also being asked by the governor to avoid raising taxes. Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg, said during the 2009 session’s opening ceremonies that he thinks the state should increase its gas tax.
Kibbie, Sen. Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, House Speaker Pat Murphy and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said in a joint statement they will work with the governor to ensure passage of “a fiscally responsible state budget that attempts to protect the progress we’re making on creating good-paying jobs, improving student achievement and teacher quality, and ensuring affordable health care.”
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