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.
Late yesterday afternoon, the White House announced the nomination of a former Iowa Utilities Board chairman as commissioner for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The nomination, according to members of Iowa’s federal delegation, is good news for the nation and not just the Hawkeye State.
John Norris, a name well-known in Iowa political circles, originally went to Washington, D.C. to serve as chief of staff for former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who had just been appointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Until his departure, Norris had served as chairman of the Iowa Utilities Board since 2005.
If confirmed, Norris will become the only Midwestern voice on the five-member commission.
“I think it is an excellent nomination,” U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley said by phone this morning. “I’ve known John for some time and he brings extensive experience from his time on the Iowa Utilities Board. I know him to be a very quick study and someone who will steep himself in the important issues that the agency will be handling.”
Braley added that Norris’ perspective will be “especially critical” as lawmakers move forward on the American Clean Energy and Security Act.
“I think it is appropriate … that we have a strong representative from the heartland who understand the significance of renewable energy not just to our state, but to our country and to the world. [Norris] can bring a commonsense, Midwestern perspective to the important issues that the agency will be dealing with.”
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, who formerly represented the congressional district where the Norris family lived, said he knows the family and has known John “since he was a high school kid.”
“I’ve always been impressed by him,” Harkin said by telephone. “He’s a smart, energetic young man. He served well as the chair of the Iowa Utilities Board, and I think he’s just got a good, level head about him.”
Noting that Norris is someone “not in the pocket of the utilities,” Harkin said that people and consumers will be well represented if the Iowan is confirmed.
“I think that for people who want more renewable energy and more green energy, this is good news,” Harkin concluded.
The detailed biographical sketch released by the White House Press Office notes that Norris worked as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell during the late 1990s and as chief of staff for then-Gov. Tom Vilsack. In an interview with Philip Brasher, Norris said that the nomination brings him one step closer to his dream job. His nomination is subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
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