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.
As predicted, Iowa’s congressional delegation voted along party lines last night on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans Care, Katrina and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act (HR 2206). While the state’s Democrat members (Rep. Boswell, Rep. Braley, and Rep. Loebsack) voted in favor of the bill, the states Republican representatives, Rep. Tom Latham and Rep. Steve King, voted against a bill that would release $42.8 billion to help support our troops through August 1st, providing them with the training and equipment needed to help ensure their safety.
Sticking to his campaign promise to help support the troops by bringing them home safely, Rep. Dave Loebsack released the following statement:
“Today, I voted once again to support our troops, take care of our veterans and help forge a new direction in Iraq. My highest priority is supporting our men and women in uniform and ensuring their safety. The President continues to stubbornly ignore the will of the American People. I am working with my colleagues and exploring all legislative options to bring our involvement in Iraq to a safe conclusion for our troops. I hope President Bush begins to work with Congress so together we can begin a new course in Iraq.”
Once approved, Congress would have another vote to approve an additional $52.8 billion price tag to cover costs through September. The key sticking point in the bill is the implementation of benchmarks for the Iraq government to meet and hold President Bush accountable, requiring him to submit reports to Congress that indicate progress towards the benchmarks.
The new legislation included benchmarks for the Iraq government to meet and required President Bush to submit reports to Congress on progress toward those benchmarks. Bush has threatened a second veto, although he said Thursday that he would discuss benchmarks with Congress.Despite the deep political line that has been drawn in the sand, there are signs that the President’s leash on the GOP Congress is getting shorter and shorter with each Bush veto:
Both sides are demanding that the President provide proof that the Iraq War is progressing by September.
Taking House Minority Leader John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) cue, Iowa Rep. Steve King said that if progress is not being made in Iraq by this fall, “we ought to look at Plan B,” whatever that may be.”
Meanwhile the Democrat presidential hopefuls have taken the offense in Iowa:
While speaking in Cedar Rapids last week, Sen. Joe Biden guaranteed the Republicans will cross party lines by September. He also encouraged spectators to “keep pricking the conscience of our leaders.”
It appeared Sen. Obama did just that when he came to Iowa and urged voters to put pressure on their leaders, all but calling Sen. Grassley out by name. Sen. Grassley responded that Sen. Obama’s move was “not senatorial,” because he’d encroached upon senatorial etiquette by pointing the finger at Sen. Grassley while visiting his back yard.
Unfettered by Sen. Grassley’s criticisms, Sen. Obama made the same appeal to potential Iowa voters while speaking in Indianola yesterday.
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