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.
A bill expanding the scope of collective bargaining for Iowa’s public sector employees will be debated tonight by the House Appropriations Committee.
An earlier version of House File 794 cleared the House Labor Committee March 12, making it eligible for debate later in the session. The legislation allows public employees to negotiate a wider range of issues than what is permitted under current law. A similar bill was passed last year, but Gov. Chet Culver vetoed it, making enemies of important labor unions and Democratic legislators in the process.
Opponents say the bill would result in tax increases because if public employers and employees can’t reach an agreement on the broader array of topics, an arbitrator would make the final decision. Supporters say only 1 percent of negotiations actually end up with an arbitrator. They also say the proposal would increase workplace safety and productivity and could help Iowa reduce its projected skilled worker shortage by boosting salaries.
A recent poll by The Des Moines Register found that expanding collective bargaining was favored by 63 percent of Iowans. Of the four major labor-backed bills being considered this session, it was the only one to receive public support in the poll.
During a press conference Thursday morning, House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said he was unaware the bill was coming up in committee.
The House Appropriations Committee is expected to take up the bill at 5 p.m.
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