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.
Although U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin was hopeful Thursday morning that his colleagues would take one more crack at passing an extension of long-term unemployment insurance benefits, his office has confirmed that there will be no more action on any measures taken until after the Independence Day recess.
“He is still committed to getting this extension passed and is hopeful we will take it up when we return,” Harkin’s spokeswoman Kate Cyrul told The Iowa Independent via e-mail, noting that Harkin hoped to drive home the point that the Senate needs to act on the extension as quickly as possible.
Most pundits believe that Senate Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., won’t attempt passage of the bill, which failed in the Senate Wednesday night by one vote, until a replacement has been seated for the late U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, W.V. By the time that replacement is seated, likely in mid-July, an estimated two million Americans will have lost benefits.
The U.S. House passed the extension Thursday afternoon on a 270-153 vote.
Harkin and many economists throughout the nation agree that government spending on unemployment benefits is one of the best uses of public money during a recession because it results in direct stimulation of the economy.
Follow Lynda Waddington 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