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.
Senate Democrats and Republicans ended a 24-hour stalemate at mid-day Friday and will delay a vote on sweeping legislation that could drastically alter Iowa’s collective bargaining laws. The agreement means the Senate will adjourn for the weekend holiday.The Senate’s 20 Republicans holed up in the Iowa Statehouse Thursday and Friday trying to stall the bill’s passage until more public comment could be made.
They refused to come back for the rest of the day and into the night, while Democrats stood on the floor and waited.
The legislator typically adjourns on Thursday, but Republicans remained in a conference room behind the senate chambers for more than a day as a way to slow fast-track legislation that would give labor unions more power to negotiate salary and working conditions.
Party leaders reached an agreement to send the bill to committee on Friday and discuss it Monday. The bill was reviewed in the Labor Committee on Friday afternoon and be debated beginning at noon on Monday. Sen. Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said he’ll limit the time allowed to debate the amendment to six hours.
Courtney Greene, press secretary to Gov. Chet Culver, a Democrat, said in a statement that the governor was pleased the two sides had reached an agreement.
“Governor Culver appreciates that the senate leadership on both sides has reached a working agreement that allows for open debate and discussion. As he said in his Condition of the State address, he believes lawmakers should not be afraid to debate these important issues in a respectful and civil manner.
“As for the bill itself, he will continue to listen to the debate, and as with all pieces of legislation, he will carefully review and consider it if and when received, and make a decision at that time.”
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