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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.
[Commentary] State Representative Dawn Pettengill left the Democratic caucus for the Republican caucus today. The Register has the story from Chris Rants's press conference, which just happened:
The change cuts the Democratic majority in the House to 53 seats and gives minority Republicans 47 seats. It takes 51 votes to pass legislation.
Pettengill had battled publicly with the House Democratic caucus this year over issues such as labor union fees and the cigarette tax increase. She had indicated publicly she might consider leaving the caucus, although she had suggested she was more likely to become an independent.
"The House Democratic leadership pursued an agenda which veered far from the principles for which my constituents and I stand," she said in a statement. "My decision gives me the best opportunity to represent the values of my constituents."
This comes as a disappointment to many progressives. Pettengill is known for her emotional outbursts, and my sense is that she perceives her district to be more conservative than it actually is. I wrote a while back about why I didn't think Pettengill was going to defect. It turns out I was wrong. This kind of transition, from the majority to the minority (particularly when Republicans will remain the minority party for at least another year, and potentially through the next campaign cycle as well) is surprising, but Pettengill planted the seed for a defection months ago.
As an aside, this comes as a double-disappointment for many progressives, who were hoping that Rants planned to announce his resignation today. Rumors that he will resign have been circulating for months, and there is no word yet on whether Pettengill's switch will influence his decision on that one way or the other.
This story is still developing, so check back later for more.
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