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.
U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley had strong words this morning for those who he believes are intent on spreading misinformation about the federal economic stimulus package.
“There are no earmarks in this bill — none,” Braley said during a conference call with reporters.
“I have people come up to me all the time to talk about supposed earmarks that are in the bill. I had a gentleman who told me that there was millions of dollars in the bill that we passed in the [U.S.] House to buy snow-blowers for Minnesota. There were none. So, it is very important for taxpayers and U.S. citizens to separate fact from fiction.”
When asked to name the source of such misinformation, Braley said, “I have no idea where this stuff comes from. I do think it is perpetuated by right-wing talk-radio hosts, who make things up and get it out into the mainstream media, and then it becomes accepted as fact. My office and I deal with these types of of myths everyday. They just aren’t true.”
Braley, a Democrat who represents Iowa’s 1st District, said he will support the bill which has come out of conference despite his disappointment in some aspects of the allotted funding. His support is largely due to the latest White House figures that show employment impact for Iowa at 37,000 new jobs — 6,600 of those in the 1st District.
“I’m going to support the bill because I believe it is absolutely essential given the dire economic circumstance we find ourselves in,” he said.
Braley would have preferred the bill include additional funding for school construction. He is also disappointed with the $100 reduction in tax cuts for working families.
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