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.
At 5 p.m. today members of MoveOn along with Iraq Summer volunteers will hold a "counter-filibuster" in front of the Federal Building, 210 Walnut St. in Des Moines. The event is planned to take place as Sen. Chuck Grassley joins a Republican "filibuster" to block a vote on ending the Iraq war.
The groups will call on him to end his participation in the filibuster, which is blocking the U.S. Senate from passing a timetable for the safe and secure exit of troops from Iraq.
Event organizers plan to read a letter from an active-duty soldier serving in Iraq that calls on Congress to bring the troops home soon.
"We're gathering to ask Senator Grassley to stop playing political games and vote to bring our troops home safely, securely and soon," said Charles Carnes, a Des Moines MoveOn volunteer.
At the event Iowans will also unveil Grassley's report card on Iraq. Since the start of 2003, he has supported Pres. George W. Bush's Iraq policy. According to event organizers, now more than 70 percent of the American public is calling for the withdrawal of nearly all troops from Iraq by April.
A majority of senators are on the record in support of legislation that would require President Bush to begin bringing the troops home within the next 120 days and complete the task by April 2008. They will not be able to vote on such a measure if Grassley and others continue to block progress. Senate rules require 60 of the 100 votes in the Senate to end debate and bring a bill to a vote.
The pending Senate bill is an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill offered by Democratic Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and chair of the Armed Services Committee and Jack Reed of Rhode Island and a former U.S. Army Ranger. It is co-sponsored by three Republican senators — Olympia Snowe of Maine, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Gordon Smith of Oregon.
Vigils and counter-filibusters are also planned in front of the U.S. Capitol Building and at in-state offices of most of the senators who plan to filibuster.
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