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.
Democratic Senate contender Tom Fiegen has made it clear he’ll run a negative campaign against primary opponent Roxanne Conlin in the weeks leading up to the June 8 primary.
Last week, he told The Iowa Independent that Conlin is “damaged goods.”
“Her candidacy is already impaired because of her past behavior and I’m simply going to have that conversation in May instead of October,” he said.
Roxanne Conlin, left, and Tom Fiegen
Fiegen’s plans materialized at Monday’s debate, hosted by The Des Moines Register and WHO-TV.
Specifically, Fiegen criticized the tax breaks Conlin and her husband receive for building and maintaining low- to moderate-income housing. Fiegen attacked Conlin for accepting those tax breaks while criticizing Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley for receiving farm subsidies.
Similar attacks to Conlin’s tax status were a burden to her failed gubernatorial run in 1982.
“How can you credibly ask Chuck Grassley to give up $263,000 in farm program benefits when you’ve collected yourself $20 million in tax credits?” Fiegen asked.
Earlier this month, Conlin told The Daily Iowan she was fed up with “tax breaks for the very wealthy.”
Conlin defended the tax breaks, saying they’re part of a national effort to provide housing to low- and moderate-income families. She also said Fiegen, a bankruptcy lawyer, “clearly” doesn’t understand tax credits.
Grassley’s campaign is also looking to capitalize on Fiegen’s attacks. The Des Moines Register reports:
“It’s clear that she still abides by the same double standard that sank her campaign for governor 28 years ago: ‘Do as I say not as I do,’ ” said Bob Renaud, Grassley’s campaign manger. “That’s an insult to hard-working Iowans who see more of their paychecks going to the government instead of staying in their own pockets.
Mark Daley, Conlin’s campaign manager, responded to Grassley’s attack (not Fiegen’s), saying “Roxanne’s family has created hundreds of jobs in Iowa building and maintaining low and moderate income housing for thousands of Iowa families.” He later added: “The Conlin’s have paid every penny of taxes they have ever owed.”
Below is video of Fiegen at a campaign event in Coralville Saturday explaining how there is “lots of information about Roxanne that I’m going to reveal” during upcoming televised forums.
Follow Adam B Sullivan 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