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.
Recommendations issued by a consulting firm that promise to save the state $341 million could be authorized by an executive order in the coming days, a spokesman for Gov. Chet Culver said Friday.
Public Works LLC issued their recommendations Tuesday. Among the 90 ideas, the firm’s report advocates urging more than 2,000 state workers to retire, closing two mental health institutions, consolidation of state government’s 223 electronic data systems and reducing the state vehicle fleet.
“Gov. Culver believes that – while these are tough times for our state – this is a time of opportunity for state government,” Culver Press Secretary Troy Price said. “He endorses the recommendations of Public Works, and is reviewing those that can be done by executive action. The governor hopes to enact those in the coming days by executive order, and begin the process of streamlining state government, and saving taxpayer dollars.”
There are approximately 40 of the 90 ideas Culver could enact by executive order. The others would take some form of legislative action to become reality. Public Works contends that if all 90 ideas are enacted the state could save about $1.7 billion over five years.
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 Revenue Estimating Conference, a three-member panel of experts who’s revenue predictions are used to guide the governor and state legislature in setting a budget, will meet Friday at 1 p.m.
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