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.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference Monday afternoon, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, addressed Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele’s comments that Democrats are “flipping the bird to the American people.”
Steele was discussing health care reform, about which he later said, “I intend to have my foot on the throat of the Democrats on this issue.”
Harkin was asked for a response to Steele’s comments, and The Huffington Post has the “soft-spoken” senator’s reply.
Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., deemed Steele’s comments crass and inappropriate for “someone who has the title Mr. Steele has.” But Harkin, standing off to the side, was seen rolling his eyes as he whispered into the ear of Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.
Asked after the event why he seemed surprised by what Steele had to say, the Iowa Democrat replied.
“I didn’t seem surprised. It is not the first obnoxious thing he said. I mean, the guy gives new definition to the word obnoxious. You know. He says outrageous things.”
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