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. Terry Branstad faced off with members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Thursday during a stop in Iowa City promoting his economic ideas, with protesters saying they disrupted the governor’s forum because they were denied their chance to speak during the Q&A session.
“If I had been allowed to speak during the Q&A, I would have told Branstad to close corporate tax loopholes to raise revenue, protect our air and water quality from factory farm polluters, and put people first,” said Jeff Strottman, an Iowa CCI member and retired state employee from Iowa City. “Branstad wouldn’t let people ask legitimate questions, so we were forced to shout him down.”
The protesters brought up House File 525, a bill being debated in the Iowa House that would alter the state’s collective bargaining rules for public employees. Emily Schettler of the Iowa City Press-Citizen reported that one audience member pointed to sacrifices public employees have made in recent years to help balance the state’s budget, such as furloughs.
From the Press-Citizen:
Branstad countered that he’d made his own sacrifices to run for office.
“I left a job that paid twice as much as this and went unemployed for a year because I love this state and want to make a difference,” Branstad said.
The Iowa Democratic Party immediately pounced on Branstad’s comment about leaving his position as president of Des Moines University – a job that paid $300,000 a year – in order to return to government.
“As previously detailed, Gov. Branstad continues to receive his full $130,000 salary and $52,000 pension from Iowa taxpayers, in addition to free housing, transportation and a full-time chef and housekeeper,” the party said in a statement, with Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky adding: “More than anyone, Gov. Branstad knew what being elected governor would entail, and it’s unconscionable for him to defend attacks on public employees in this manner.”
At a stop in Waterloo on Wednesday, several Isle Casino Hotel Waterloo employees and union members were there to protest changes to collective bargaining law as well as Branstad’s plan to increase taxes on the state’s casinos.
From the Waterloo Courier:
The increase in gambling taxes from 22 percent to 36 percent would help pay for a proposed cut in corporate and commercial property tax rates, Branstad said during a town hall meeting at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.
The plan has raised concerns from casinos, county gaming foundations and employees about possible negative consequences.
“If this proposed casino tax goes through, I have a chance of losing my job again,” said Kayleen Glenn, an Isle employee from Dysart.
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