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Open letter to readers: Today and tomorrow

By Lynda Waddington | 11.17.11

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.

ACS lockout continues; plan emerges to repeal sugar protections

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By Virginia Chamlee | 11.15.11

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.

Cain campaign: Farmers know more about regulations than EPA

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By Andrew Duffelmeyer | 11.15.11

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.

Mathis wins, Democrats maintain Senate control

Liz Mathis
By Lynda Waddington | 11.08.11

The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.

Press Release

PR: Nation should work to address veterans’ challenges

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

BRUCE BRALEY RELEASE — As US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan ends, it’s more important than ever that our nation works to address the challenges faced by the men and women who fought there.

PR: Honoring veterans, help in hiring

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

CHUCK GRASSLEY RELEASE — A difficult job market is challenging the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have protected America’s interests by serving in the Armed Forces.

PR: In honor of America’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

TOM LATHAM RELEASE — No one has done more to secure the freedom enjoyed by every single American than our veterans and those currently serving in the armed services.

PR: Honoring and supporting our nation’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

DAVE LOEBSACK RELEASE — Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on the service of generations of veterans and to honor the sacrifices they and their families have made so that we may live in peace and freedom here at home.

Legislative Endorsement Update: Richardson Now On The Board

By John Deeth | 11.21.07 | 8:00 am

Bill Richardson scores his first legislative endorsement, as State Rep. Marcella Frevert of Palo Alto County looks over the resume and hires the governor.  The endorsement is part of a recent flurry of activity on the Democratic side:

  • Joe Biden has the backing of Rep. Mary Gaskill of Ottumwa, and just this morning added Des Moines Rep. Bruce Hunter.
  • Hillary Clinton picked up two Cedar Rapids legislators, Sen. Rob Hogg and Rep. Todd Taylor.
  • John Edwards got the endorsement of Rep. Bob Kressig of Black Hawk County.
  • Rep. Brian Quirk of Chickasaw County is with Barack Obama.

    Time for an updated chart of donkeys:

     

    Total Senate House
    Clinton 18 10 8
    Obama 15 6 9
    Biden 14 2 12
    Edwards 10 2 8
    Dodd 3 2 1
    Richardson 1 0 1
    Kucinich 0 0 0
    Gravel 0 0 0
    Uncommitted 23 8 15
    Total 83 30 53

    The standout stat from this chart remains Joe Biden’s high levels of legislative support — actually leading on the House side, and only one donkey behind Obama — despite his low standing in the polls.

    Name District Home County Endorsement 2004 Endorsement
    Sen. Herman C. Quirmbach Senate District 23 Story Biden none
    Sen. Dr. Joe M. Seng Senate District 43 Scott Biden none
    Rep. McKinley Bailey House District 9 Hamilton Biden new
    Rep. Doris Kelley House District 20 Black Hawk Biden new
    Rep. Roger Thomas House District 24 Clayton Biden Kerry
    Rep. Polly Bukta House District 26 Clinton Biden Dean
    Rep. Dick Taylor House District 33 Linn Biden Kerry
    Rep. Lisa Heddens House District 46 Story Biden Kerry
    Rep. Bruce Hunter House District 62 Polk Biden Dean
    Rep. Kevin McCarthy House District 67 Polk Biden Lieberman
    Rep. Jim Lykam House District 85 Scott Biden none
    Rep. Mary Gaskill House District 93 Wapello Biden Kerry
    Rep. John Whitaker House District 90 Van Buren Biden Gephardt
    Rep. Mike Reasoner House District 95 Union Biden Lieberman
    Sen. William A. Dotzler, Jr. Senate District 11 Black Hawk Clinton Gephardt
    Sen. Roger Stewart Senate District 13 Jackson Clinton Kerry
    Sen. Michael Connolly Senate District 14 Dubuque Clinton Kerry
    Sen. Wally E. Horn Senate District 17 Linn Clinton none
    Sen. Rob Hogg Senate District 19 Linn Clinton none
    Sen. Dennis H. Black Senate District 21 Jasper Clinton Kerry
    Sen. Dick L. Dearden Senate District 34 Polk Clinton Gephardt
    Sen. Staci Appel Senate District 37 Warren Clinton new
    Sen. Becky Schmitz Senate District 45 Jefferson Clinton new
    Sen. Gene Fraise Senate District 46 Lee Clinton none
    Rep. Roger Wendt House District 2 Woodbury Clinton Kerry
    Rep. Mark Kuhn House District 14 Floyd Clinton Gephardt
    Rep. Todd Taylor House District 34 Linn Clinton none
    Rep. Swati Dandekar House District 36 Linn Clinton Kerry
    Rep. Paul Bell House District 41 Jasper Clinton Kerry
    Rep. Mary Mascher House District 77 Johnson Clinton Kerry
    Rep. Vicki Lensing House District 78 Johnson Clinton none
    Rep. Cindy Winckler House District 86 Scott Clinton Dean
    Sen. Jeff Danielson Senate District 10 Black Hawk Dodd new
    Sen. Tom Hancock Senate District 16 Dubuque Dodd new
    Rep. Ray Zirkelbach House District 31 Jones Dodd new
    Rep. Bob Kressig House District 19 Black Hawk Edwards new
    Sen. Daryl Beall Senate District 25 Webster Edwards Dean
    Sen. Keith A. Kreiman Senate District 47 Davis Edwards Edwards
    Rep. Wes Whitead House District 1 Woodbury Edwards Gephardt
    Rep. Andrew Wenthe House District 18 Fayette Edwards new
    Rep. Ro Foege House District 29 Linn Edwards Edwards
    Rep. Art Staed House District 37 Linn Edwards new
    Rep. Geri Huser House District 42 Polk Edwards Edwards
    Rep. Nathan Reichert House District 80 Muscatine Edwards new
    Rep. Kurt Swaim House District 94 Davis Edwards Edwards
    Sen. Steve Warnstadt Senate District 1 Woodbury Obama Kerry
    Sen. Rich Olive Senate District 5 Story Obama new
    Sen. Bill Heckroth Senate District 9 Bremer Obama new
    Sen. Robert E. Dvorsky Senate District 15 Johnson Obama Gephardt
    Sen. Tom Rielly Senate District 38 Mahaska Obama new
    Sen. Frank Wood Senate District 42 Scott Obama new
    Rep. Brian Quirk House District 15 Chickasaw Obama Kerry
    Rep. Pam Jochum House District 27 Dubuque Obama Kerry
    Rep. David Jacoby House District 30 Johnson Obama Kerry
    Rep. Tyler Olson House District 38 Linn Obama new
    Rep. Mark Smith House District 43 Marshall Obama Kerry
    Rep. Donovan Olson House District 48 Boone Obama Kerry
    Rep. Helen Miller House District 49 Webster Obama Gephardt
    Rep. Janet Petersen House District 64 Polk Obama Kerry
    Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad House District 66 Polk Obama new
    Rep. Elesha Gayman House District 84 Scott Obama new
    Rep. Marcella Frevert House District 7 Palo Alto Richardson Dean
    Sen. John P. "Jack" Kibbie Senate District 4 Palo Alto   Kerry
    Sen. Amanda Ragan Senate District 7 Cerro Gordo   none
    Sen. Brian Schoenjahn Senate District 12 Fayette   new
    Sen. Matt McCoy Senate District 31 Polk   Kerry
    Sen. Jack Hatch Senate District 33 Polk   Kerry
    Sen. Joe Bolkcom Senate District 39 Johnson   Dean
    Sen. Thomas G. Courtney Senate District 44 Des Moines   Gephardt
    Sen. Michael E. Gronstal Senate District 50 Pottawattamie   none
    Rep. Dolores Mertz House District 8 Kossuth   none
    Rep. Deborah Berry House District 22 Black Hawk   Kerry
    Rep. Tom Schueller House District 25 Jackson   new
    Rep. Pat Murphy House Dist
    rict 28    		 Dubuque   none
    Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell House District 45 Story   new
    Rep. Jo Oldson House District 61 Polk   Kerry
    Rep. Wayne Ford House District 65 Polk   Edwards
    Rep. Rick Olson House District 68 Polk   new
    Rep. Mark Davitt House District 74 Warren   Kerry
    Rep. Eric Palmer House District 75 Mahaska   new
    Rep. Dennis Cohoon House District 88 Des Moines   Edwards
    Rep. Philip L. Wise House District 92 Lee   Lieberman
    Rep. Paul Shomshor House District 100 Pottawattamie   Lieberman

    There’s less than no activity on the Republican side, as two names drop off the committed chart with Sam Brownback’s departure from the race.  (They didn’t follow Brownback’s lead and endorse John McCain).


    Total House Senate
    Romney 16 12 4
    McCain 8 5 3
    Giuliani 3 0 3
    Huckabee 3 2 1
    Thompson 1 1 0
    Cox 0 0 0
    Hunter 0 0 0
    Keyes 0 0 0
    Tancredo 0 0 0
    Uncommitted (so far) 36 27 9
    Total 67 47 20

     

    Name District Home County Endorsement
    Sen. E. Thurman Gaskill Senate District 6 Hancock Giuliani
    Sen. Mary Lundby Senate District 18 Linn Giuliani
    Sen. Jeff Angelo Senate District 48 Union Giuliani
    Sen. David Hartsuch Senate District 41 Scott Huckabee
    Rep. Dwayne Alons House District 4 Sioux Huckabee
    Rep. Carmine Boal House District 70 Polk Huckabee
    Sen. John Putney Senate District 20 Tama McCain
    Sen. Larry McKibben Senate District 22 Marshall McCain
    Sen. Pat Ward Senate District 30 Polk McCain
    Rep. Mike May House District 6 Dickinson McCain
    Rep. Bill Schickel House District 13 Cerro Gordo McCain
    Rep. Steven Lukan House District 32 Dubuque McCain
    Rep. Rod Roberts House District 51 Carroll McCain
    Rep. Walt Tomenga House District 69 Polk McCain
    Sen. Dave Mulder Senate District 2 Sioux Romney
    Sen. David Johnson Senate District 3 Osceola Romney
    Sen. Brad Zaun Senate District 32 Polk Romney
    Sen. James F. Hahn Senate District 40 Muscatine Romney
    Rep. Dave Deyoe House District 10 Story Romney
    Rep. Tami Wiencek House District 21 Black Hawk Romney
    Rep. Chuck Soderberg House District 3 Plymouth Romney
    Rep. Ralph Watts House District 47 Dallas Romney
    Rep. Dave Tjepkes House District 50 Webster Romney
    Rep. Christopher Rants House District 54 Woodbury Romney
    Rep. Jodi Tymeson House District 73 Madison Romney
    Rep. Linda Miller House District 82 Scott Romney
    Rep. Steven Olson House District 83 Clinton Romney
    Rep. Rich Anderson House District 97 Page Romney
    Rep. Greg Forristall House District 98 Pottawattamie Romney
    Rep. Doug Struyk House District 99 Pottawattamie Romney
    Rep. Sandy Greiner House District 89 Washington Thompson
    Sen. Mark Zieman Senate District 8 Allamakee (ex-Brownback)
    Sen. Jerry Behn Senate District 24 Boone  
    Sen. Steve Ketteriin Senate District 26 Sac  
    Sen. Ron Wieck Senate District 27 Woodbury  
    Sen. James A. Seymour Senate District 28 Harrison  
    Sen. Nancy J. Boettger Senate District 29 Shelby (ex-Brownback)
    Sen. Larry Noble Senate District 35 Polk  
    Sen. Paul McKinley Senate District 36 Lucas  
    Sen. Hubert Houser Senate District 49 Pottawattamie  
    Rep. Royd Chambers House District 5 O’Brien  
    Rep. Henry Rayhons House District 11 Hancock  
    Rep. Linda Upmeyer House District 12 Hancock  
    Rep. Chuck Gipp House District 16 Winneshiek  
    Rep. Pat Grassley House District 17 Butler  
    Rep. Dan Rasmussen House District 23 Buchanan  
    Rep. Kraig Paulsen House District 35 Linn  
    Rep. Dawn Pettengill House District 39 Benton  
    Rep. Lance Horbach House District 40 Tama  
    Rep. Polly Granzow House District 44 Hardin  
    Rep. Gary Worthan House District 52 Buena Vista  
    Rep. Dan Huseman House District 53 Cherokee  
    Rep. Clarence Hoffman House District 55 Crawford  
    Rep. Matt Windschitl House District 56 Harrison  
    Rep. Jack Drake House District 57 Pottawattamie  
    Rep. Clel Baudler House District 58 Adair  
    Rep. Dan Clute House District 59 Polk  
    Rep. Libby Jacobs House District 60 Polk  
    Rep. J. Scott Raecker House District 63 Polk  
    Rep. Jim Van Engelenhoven House District 71 Marion  
    Rep. Rich Arnold House District 72 Lucas  
    Rep. Betty De Boef House District 76 Keokuk  
    Rep. Jeff Kaufmann House District 79 Cedar  
    Rep. Jamie Van Fossen House District 81 Scott  
    Rep. Tom Sands House District 87 Louisa  
    Rep. Dave Heaton House District 91 Henry  
    Rep. Cecil Dolecheck House District 96 Ringgold  

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