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.
Gov. Chet Culver told the Associated Press yesterday that he may still call a special session of the legislature to deal with the damage left behind in the wake if this year’s record flooding.
But a group of legislators told The Des Moines Register that a special session is doubtful, with state Sen. Bill Dotzler, a Waterloo Democrat saying that it’s “pretty dangerous” to have a special session close to the November elections because the effort could turn overly political.
State Rep. Tami Wiencek, a Republican from Waterloo, was also skeptical that a special session would take place this year.
She noted that key questions remain, such as the match Iowa governments will be expected to contribute in some programs to qualify for federal assistance.
“If I was playing Psychic Tami, I would say no,” Wiencek said.
With the federal government going into recess before debating a proposed $10.1 billion in federal aid, state lawmakers are left wondering when federal money will come and how much the state will have to kick in. Culver asked the feds to pick up 90 percent of the tab for recovery and rebuilding efforts, but the exact total will not be known until Congress comes back into session and passes a relief spending bill.
If that’s granted, it would make a $112 million difference to the state.
“That means the Legislature and I don’t have to worry about $112 million in costs,” said Culver. “Those types of things ultimately will have a huge impact on ultimately whether or not we have a special session.”
Culver said he expects to learn the outcome of his requests “in the next couple of weeks” and that will weigh heavily on whether he summons lawmakers into session.
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