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.
Former New York Gov. George Pataki issued a statement Friday afternoon indicating that he would concentrate on his nonprofit, No American Debt, instead of launching a 2012 bid for the White House.
His full statement reads:
Earlier this year I launched No American Debt to put a focus on our debt crisis. President Obama and his misguided policies are bankrupting America, stealing from our children’s future and he must be defeated next November. It is incumbent on our party to come forward with serious solutions to preserve our future and ensure America’s continued greatness. I remain committed to the advancement of real, politically viable reforms to entitlements and rolling back the size and cost of the federal government.George Pataki
At this time, I will continue to do this as the leader of No American Debt and not as a candidate for president. Throughout the coming months I will remain active in this important discussion and support the candidate who offers the vision, the ideas and the leadership to bring an end to America’s debt crisis.
Pataki was scheduled to appear at a Polk County GOP picnic fundraiser this Saturday evening alongside U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul. Along with his statement declining a run, Pataki has also cancelled his appearance in Des Moines.
“We regret that Governor Pataki has decided to forgo an Iowa appearance … but we are still nearly sold out for Saturday’s picnic,” said Kevin McLaughlin, chairman of the Polk County GOP.
It had been speculated since an earlier Iowa jaunt in November 2009 that Pataki, who served three consecutive four-year terms as New York’s executive, might make an announcement he was entering the 2012 field. If that had been the case, and the announcement came during the Polk County GOP event, it would have marked the first time in this cycle that a more moderate Republican with a record of supporting women’s rights, workers’ rights, immigrant rights and gay rights had chosen to make such an announcement in the Hawkeye State.
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