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.
The Pew Research Center released its annual poll of the public’s priorities for the new year Monday. Topping the list is “strengthening the nation’s economy,” which is a 2010 priority for 83 percent of Americans surveyed, followed by “improving the job situation” (81 percent) and “defending US against terrorism” (80 percent).
And in dead last? “Dealing with global warming,” with 28 percent, which places global warming below all 20 of the other issues polled.
Even worse news for climate activists is that “dealing with [the] US energy problem” is the issue that suffered the greatest decline from last year, dropping from 60 to 49 percent. (”Dealing with global warming,” despite its two-point drop, was also the lowest-ranking priority in 2009.) Backers of cap-and-trade legislation on the Hill have sought to recast the debate from one centered on climate change — which has never scored many political points — to one focusing on energy independence, thought to be a political winner. But given that a minority of Americans now believe in the urgency of either climate or energy issues, the messaging task ahead for environmental activists is a difficult one indeed.
And it looks as if they won’t get much help from the president. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. is specifically asking Obama to “underscore that climate and energy reform is a priority for 2010.” But climate activists fear that it won’t receive so much as a mention in Wednesday’s State of the Union speech.
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