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.
Even though the U.S. economy is believed to have begun rebounding sometime in the third quarter of 2009, state finances are not expected to recover for at least two years, according to a report released Wednesday.
Research by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) found that nationally, state legislators are facing a cumulative budget gap of $145.9 billion in their FY 2010 budgets. This was on top of the gaps they closed in FY 2009, and for many, the ones they faced in FY 2008.
“Even if the recession is over, state budgets are still in appalling conditions and are going to be that way for quite a while,” said Corina Eckl, fiscal director at the National Conference of State Legislatures. “For many states, revenue recovery is not even in the forecast.”
Eckl said that once it begins “state budget recovery will be a painfully slow process with some hiccups along the way.”
A review of Iowa’s finances by the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency found that lawmakers will face a projected budget shortfall of more than $1 billion in the fiscal year that begins July 1.
The $565 million in cuts ordered by Gov. Chet Culver for FY2009 will be automatically restored for FY2010, leaving it up to the legislature to make the cuts needed to balance the budget. If the NCSL predictions prove correct, more cuts will be needed in FY2011, when stimulus funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) run out.
A consulting firm hired by Culver issued a report earlier this week making recommendations to streamline government functions. The firm contends that if enacted its suggestions could save the state $341 million in a one-year period and about $1.7 billion over five years.
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