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.
Senate Democrats are asking the public to help break the legislative gridlock within the state capitol.
“It’s time for Iowans to get involved in terms of what’s happening in state government,” Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (D-Council Bluffs) said. “We started this session talking about education and job creation in this state. We’ve been at it for over 120 days, and we’re not making much progress with the people in this building. So it’s time for the people outside this building to call Gov. (Terry) Branstad and tell him starvation budgets for economic development and for education in this state are unacceptable to Iowans.”
Gronstal outlined 10 areas concerning education and job creation where compromise would be needed to break the gridlock, prominently allowable growth to public school district budgets and universal preschool. Democrat leaders and lawmakers will travel across Iowa to discuss education funding and job creation.
The announcement coincided with Branstad’s announcement that he, too, will be holding town hall meetings next week. Officials in Branstad’s office said this morning that the Governor’s town hall meetings have no specific agenda.
Budget battles have been going on for weeks at the Statehouse, as both parties have struggled to reach compromises. Branstad has encouraged a two-year budget. Democrats have offered an 18-month fiscal year budget, the remaining six months of which would be determined during the next legislative session.
A point of contention for the two parties has been education funding, specifically universal preschool for four year-olds, and allowable growth — the adjustment of cost-of-living — for school district budgets.
Gronstal repeatedly deflected compromise questions, stating, “I will not bargain through the press.” The Majority Leader, who is also up for re-election in the next election cycle, also denied the tactic was a means to shift political pressure.
I don’t worry about political pressure. I’m trying to get Iowans engaged in this battle,” Gronstal said. “We have people in this building that will not listen.”
Democrat leaders said the session is stalled by Branstad’s unwillingness to compromise on a two-year budget, but not by “decisive social issues or two-year budget gimmicks, or anything like that.”
Gronstal said he met with Branstad’s staff today, but not with the Governor himself.
Constituents may call the Governor’s office at (515) 281-5211.
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