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.
Drama unfolded at the Iowa Capitol this morning, as hundreds of anti-gay marriage activists swarmed the House gallery after an 8:30 a.m. prayer rally on the steps outside.
Once the activists, organized by the Iowa Family Policy Center, had moved into the gallery, Republican House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen made two motions. First, he attempted to invoke Rule 77, which requires House members to remain in the chambers, preventing them from “taking a walk” if a tough vote comes up.
Confusion ensued. Paulsen then attempted to invoke Rule 60, which allows a majority vote on the floor of the House to pull a bill out of a committee even if the committee has not approved it.
Currently, the House’s resolution to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage, House Joint Resolution 6, is stalled in the State Government Committee. Paulsen had hoped to bring it up for a vote anyway.
After a tense half hour in the well on the House floor, Democratic House Speaker Pat Murphy ruled both of Paulsen’s motions out of order. The protesters chanted “Let us vote” before they began to leave.
Find more at Bleeding Heartland, Radio Iowa, and the Des Moines Register.
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter