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.
In a pair of votes that hit close to home for Iowa, voters in Maine repealed the state’s law allowing same-sex couples to get married while also voting to expand the state’s medical marijuana law.
Both issues are big topics in the Hawkeye State. The Iowa Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in April, and since that time Iowa Republicans have repeatedly demanded the legislature pass a constitutional amendment overturning the decision. That amendment would eventually go to the voters to decide.
Marriage equality advocates in Iowa kept a watchful eye on Maine for months, knowing one day they could have to fight that battle themselves. The organization leading the fight against same-sex marriage in Main and across the country, the National Organization for Marriage, has already vowed to dedicate time and resources in Iowa.
“We were watching this election closely in Iowa as it is a precursor to we will be up against,” said Carolyn Jenison, executive director of the state’s largest LGBT advocacy group One Iowa. “Our hearts go out to the couples in Maine who have lost something so dear and central to being an America family.”
Maine is the 31st state to reject same-sex marriage at the ballot box. Iowa and four other states — Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont — allow same-sex marriage.
Iowa conservatives are pointing to the Maine decision as proof that the issue could be a big advantage to Republicans in 2010.
“There is no doubt that a marriage amendment would find overwhelming support here in Iowa, yet Gov. [Chet] Culver, Speaker Pat Murphy and [Senate] Majority Leader Mike Gronstal are preventing the vote from taking place,” conservative blogger and former Republican Party of Iowa Political Director Craig Robinson wrote Wednesday. “While that strategy might help propel their liberal philosophy, it could hurt them at the ballot box next November.”
Gronstal and Murphy have repeatedly said the same-sex marriage issue will never be debated as long as they lead their respective legislative chambers.
Maine voters approved an expansion of the conditions that would qualify for medical marijuana and allows for a statewide system of storefront distribution centers. The Iowa Pharmacy Board has held a series of hearings around the state on the topic of medical marijuana, and state Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, introduced a bill during the 2009 legislative session to allow the possession and use of marijuana for therapeutic purposes.
Follow Jason Hancock on Twitter
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter