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 Republican immigration task force recently made some suggestions in response to a state House bill (H.F. 2026) sponsored by Democratic representatives that would penalize corporate officers of companies that employ undocumented workers. The group, which included Senators Jeff Angelo of Creston, Paul McKinley of Chariton and Steve Kettering of Lake View, wants to add 14 state troopers to help enforce immigration law.
Quoted in The Des Moines Register, Senate Minortiy Leader Ron Wieck of Sioux City has criticized the Democrats’ plan, which he said “dumps a tremendous amount of responsibility on the backs of Iowa businesses.”
State Republicans propose an end to what they call a “catch and release system” in Iowa. Angelo told Iowa Independent reporter Doug Burns that this practice makes local law enforcement “angry.”
Below the fold is a short interview with Angelo taped in the State Capital last week.Angelo told the Iowa Independent that the Republican proposal is “more comprehensive” in dealing with undocumented workers.
“This particular bill talks about mandates … our attorney general will negotiate a memorandum of understanding with the federal government in regard to when our local law enforcement picks up illegal aliens they’re going to be put into the federal system and deported ultimately. … “
Angelo said penalties for employers are also in the Republican proposal and would increase after repeat offenses. He listed some of the items in his task force findings:
“The Democratic alternative has basically one proposal and that is that you fine employers heavily if they’ve hired illegal aliens. … “
“We’re going to hire 14 additional troopers [one for] each state trooper district which will deal specifically with illegal immigration issues. There is free training available through the federal government to train local law enforcement in dealing with illegals.
“We’ll cut off all public aid except for emergency aid. We will deny admittance to the universities and we do have penalties for employers that do illegally hire illegal immigrants. But they’re an escalated scale of penalties. …”
Dem-sponsored H.F. 2026 fines corporate officers $10,000 for hiring undocumented workers.
Angelo and his wife, Ames attorney Tara van Brederode, were interviewed for a special Valentine’s Day feature by Iowa Independent reporter Doug Burns last week.
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