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Open letter to readers: Today and tomorrow

By Lynda Waddington | 11.17.11

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.

ACS lockout continues; plan emerges to repeal sugar protections

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By Virginia Chamlee | 11.15.11

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.

Cain campaign: Farmers know more about regulations than EPA

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By Andrew Duffelmeyer | 11.15.11

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.

Mathis wins, Democrats maintain Senate control

Liz Mathis
By Lynda Waddington | 11.08.11

The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.

Press Release

PR: Nation should work to address veterans’ challenges

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

BRUCE BRALEY RELEASE — As US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan ends, it’s more important than ever that our nation works to address the challenges faced by the men and women who fought there.

PR: Honoring veterans, help in hiring

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

CHUCK GRASSLEY RELEASE — A difficult job market is challenging the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have protected America’s interests by serving in the Armed Forces.

PR: In honor of America’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

TOM LATHAM RELEASE — No one has done more to secure the freedom enjoyed by every single American than our veterans and those currently serving in the armed services.

PR: Honoring and supporting our nation’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

DAVE LOEBSACK RELEASE — Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on the service of generations of veterans and to honor the sacrifices they and their families have made so that we may live in peace and freedom here at home.

DNC Lawyers: Florida, Michigan Must Be Punished

By John Deeth | 05.28.08 | 7:41 am

At the Democratic National Committee’s rules and bylaws committee prepares to meet on Saturday to decide the fate of calendar cheaters Florida and Michigan, attorneys for the DNC are arguing that party rules require that the two states lose at least half their delegates for violating the party’s nomination calendar.The 38 page brief looks at several aspects of the issue and underscored an understated fact about the fight. “Most overlooked is the agenda of the committee itself,” as opposed to the agendas of the Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns, writes The Politico. “It is a rules committee; its members believe in rules and that rules must be enforced, even as political realities are addressed.”

“I think we’re moving toward half votes for everybody,” Florida DNC member Jon Ausman told the St. Petersburg Times. That paper also notes that delegate selection in Florida may need to be reopened; the Obama campaign never fielded a slate of delegates because, as of the Jan. 29 vote in Florida, the state wasn’t going to have any delegates.

Tickets to Saturday’s meeting of the once-obscure committee were scooped up in “a matter of seconds,” wrote the DNC, and a circus atmosphere reminiscent of the 2000 Florida recount is expected. Clinton supporters are organizing protest, but the Obama campaign is officially discouraging counter-protests. “We look forward to the meeting proceeding smoothly – and we’re asking our supporters not to show up to demonstrate, passionately as they feel about this campaign,” said in internal campaign email obtained by The Hill.

Democratic Convention Watch runs the math based on five live scenarios:

  • Do not seat Florida or Michigan, as the rules currently state.
  • Seat Florida at a half vote per delegate, and Michigan at a split of Clinton 69, Obama 59. That’s a compromise between the 64-64 split proposed by Obama and the 73 delegates Clinton “won” on Jan. 15, and is the current official position of the Michigan party. Superdelegates would get a full vote under this plan.
  • Michigan and Florida seat at a half vote per delegate.
  • Michigan and Florida seat at a half vote per elected delegate, and a full vote per superdelegate.
  • Finally, the Never Mind scenario of seating Florida and Michigan as elected, with no punishment.

    Not on the table: Clinton supporter Lanny Davis’ proposal to give Clinton the 73 delegates she “won” in Michigan and half of the uncommitted delegates. His argument that some of the uncommitted voters who voted against Clinton really had her as a second choice was greeted with web-wide derision.

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