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.
Iowa Democratic Congressman Bruce Braley Wednesday admonished his Republican congressional colleagues’ support of the payroll tax increase, which Braley says will be a gut-punch to low-income and middle class families.
“What’s so hypocritical about Republicans’ position on the payroll tax increase that they are proposing is that it is an enormous impact by hitting the middle class and working poor,” Braley said during a conference call with press. “It’s so important to remember that this hike has an immediate impact on their paycheck.”
Braley was joined by Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky, who said the Republicans’ support of the payroll tax increase is “hypocritical” because Republican leaders oppose tax hikes for wealthy individuals and called the increase “a bad policy.”
“[Democrats] fight for the middle class, and Republicans forget about them,” she said.
Last winter, President Barack Obama struck a deal with Congress to lower the tax American workers pay toward benefit programs like Social Security from 6.2 to 4.2 percent for 12 months. Obama, however, has indicated that one year will not be sufficient, and has put it to Congress to extend his policy for an extra year. Republicans have taken the stance that the extended reduction will fail to reduce the deficit.
Follow Meghan Malloy on Twitter
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter