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.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan today filed a formal complaint with the House Ethics Committee regarding the political content currently published on U.S. Rep. Steve King’s taxpayer-funded website.
Iowa Independent first reported the presence on the official site of the highly partisan comments about Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama several weeks ago.In the letter, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan cites specific provisions in the Regulations on the Use of the Congressional Frank, which serves as a communications guidebook for Members of Congress. Brennan states that King, a Kiron Republican, is in violation of two specific provisions listed under examples of “unfrankable” items, including:
No specific references to past or future campaigns or elections (are allowed), including election or re-election announcements and schedules of campaign related events.
Comments critical of policy or legislation should not be partisan, politicized or personalized.
Over the weekend, King publicly refused to take down his comments.
“Steve King is violating House ethics rules by promoting his political comments on his taxpayer-funded website,” Brennan said. “King has refused to take responsibility for his abuse of government resources, so I am asking the Ethics Committee to take action.”
“Iowa’s taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for King’s hateful political commentary on the 2008 Presidential election,” Brennan added. “King needs to stop breaking House ethics rules and take down these politically motivated remarks from his taxpayer-funded website.”
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