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Open letter to readers: Today and tomorrow

By Lynda Waddington | 11.17.11

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.

ACS lockout continues; plan emerges to repeal sugar protections

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By Virginia Chamlee | 11.15.11

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.

Cain campaign: Farmers know more about regulations than EPA

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By Andrew Duffelmeyer | 11.15.11

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.

Mathis wins, Democrats maintain Senate control

Liz Mathis
By Lynda Waddington | 11.08.11

The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.

Press Release

PR: Nation should work to address veterans’ challenges

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

BRUCE BRALEY RELEASE — As US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan ends, it’s more important than ever that our nation works to address the challenges faced by the men and women who fought there.

PR: Honoring veterans, help in hiring

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

CHUCK GRASSLEY RELEASE — A difficult job market is challenging the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have protected America’s interests by serving in the Armed Forces.

PR: In honor of America’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

TOM LATHAM RELEASE — No one has done more to secure the freedom enjoyed by every single American than our veterans and those currently serving in the armed services.

PR: Honoring and supporting our nation’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

DAVE LOEBSACK RELEASE — Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on the service of generations of veterans and to honor the sacrifices they and their families have made so that we may live in peace and freedom here at home.

(Photo: White House Flickr)
(Photo: White House Flickr)

Democrats hope to block House vote on unemployment extension

By Ed Brayton | 12.09.10 | 9:22 am

It seems that President Barack Obama’s impromptu press conference Tuesday to sell the compromise he worked out with Republicans on extending the Bush tax cuts and unemployment benefits has not convinced some of his fellow Democrats. Several Democrats in the U.S. House are so upset about the deal that they’re trying to block the House from voting on the bill.

Fox has learned that Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Jay Inslee (D-WA) are crafting a letter to share with the House Democratic Caucus that would try to prevent the Speaker from bringing the tax bill to the floor.

They hope to get 60 signatures on their letter (which is still being drafted) and then force a vote in the caucus. DeFazio says he thinks that if a majority of House Democrats are against this compromise, they shouldn’t bring it to the floor.

This seems rather Quixotic. If the House leadership wants the bill, the White House wants the bill and there’s a majority that will pass it — and with most Republicans on board, there certainly will be — it seems highly unlikely that a vote in the Democratic caucus would prevent it from happening.

After the Democrats lost control of the House in 1994, it was not unusual for President Bill Clinton to sign a bill that was passed with majority approval from Republicans and a minority of Democrats. That is how GATT, NAFTA and at least two financial deregulation bills were passed after 1994.

Comments

  • Anonymous

    These out of touch House Democrats apparently have no clue how devasting the nations unemployment situation really is. The vast majority of unemployed citizens are trying desparately to gain meaningful employment but, the jobs just aren’t out there. Sure if all your benefits have expired you’re ” forced ” to take a temporary job for $ 9 an hr. – no medical benefits – no guarantee of a 40 hr week — and even if it’s full time you can’t make enough to pay the bills you once were able to pay before you were laid off. The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. I don’t have all the answers but, all these educated law makers apparently don’t either.

  • Anonymous

    These out of tuch Democrats apparently have no clue as to exactly how serious the unemployment situation is in this country. The vast majority of laid off citizens having been trying for months obtain gainful employment and get off the unemployment benefits if in fact they have any left. The problem is first finding a job and then finding one for more than $ 8 or $ 9 an hr — with no benefits wha so ever — no guarantee of a 40 hr week or how long the job will last — and then not be able to pay your bills you once had or even downsized for because you can’t live above the poverty level with all these so called created jobs. I don’t have all the anwsers either but, not extending the benefits to the poor hard working citizens who are still out of work is just plain idiotic.

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