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.
Apparently we’re done with playing nice about the floods.
The Des Moines Register’s Iowa Ear describes a heated exchange between House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines, over how to best help those affected by this year’s severe weather. If it is any indication of things to come, the special legislative session will most likely be held in an octagon cage somewhere in Las Vegas.
Rants proposed in an e-mail to supporters that the state offer tax breaks to business affected by the floods. McCarthy was none too impressed with the idea, saying Rants is a “one-trick pony†and that his plan is “virtually the same corporate tax cut proposal (the Republicans) pushed before the floods even occurred.â€
“Their proposal is another major warning sign that the Republican Party has veered terribly to the political right and is completely out of touch with mainstream Iowa.â€
Rants fired back, saying the idea was far from complete and that Republicans would support different ways to help the state recover.
“McCarthy makes this some big political bash fest,†Rants said. “I don’t know what they’re thinking in the majority leader’s office but the reaction they had was just beyond bizarre.â€
Remember fellas, no head butting and no punching below the belt. Now go back to your corners and when the bell rings, come out fighting.
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