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.
Fourth District Democratic congressional candidate Becky Greenwald raised and spent more money than her opponent during the last quarter, but she still trails incumbent U.S. Rep. Tom Latham in total cash on hand.
According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, Greenwald raised $308,452 and spent $354,422 between July 1 and Sept. 30. She now has $24,476 in cash on hand and $10,806 in debts. Latham raised $290,815 and spent $266,432, ending the quarter with $774,671 cash on hand and $49,093 in debts.
However, Greenwald’s campaign has been included on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” list, which targets it as a competitive race and signals a new flow of financial, communications and strategic support from the national committee to the local campaign. Her campaign is also expected to receive financial help from EMILY’s List, a group that funds Democratic women candidates who support abortion rights.
In other congressional races, 2nd District Republican candidate Marriannette Miller-Meeks raised $137,089 this quarter, more than incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, who raised $108,142. However, Loebsack still has a sizable advantage in cash on hand, with $456,656, compared with $79,450 for Miller-Meeks.
Fifth District U.S. Rep. Steve King outraised his Democratic opponent, Rob Hubler, by nearly $100,000. King raised $191,689 and has $351,239 cash on hand, compared with Hubler, who raised $95,235 and has $64,654 cash on hand.
In the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts, incumbent Democrats Bruce Braley and Leonard Boswell handily outraised their opponents. Neither race is expected to be competitive.
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