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.
The three Democratic members of Iowa’s congressional delegation voted in support of a $14 billion loan package for ailing automakers while the two Republican lawmakers opposed the measure.
Congressman Dave Loebsack, D-Mount Vernon, pointed to the fact that 34,000 Iowa jobs are tied to the auto industry. Those jobs would be in jeopardy of the industry was to fail.
Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Waterloo, echoed those concerns, saying his decision to support the legislation, which passed the House 237 to 170, was a “decision to protect American jobs.”
Congressman Steve King, R-Kiron, had made his opposition to the bailout public before any votes were cast. He said instead of pushing for major reform of the poorly-managed automakers, Congress instead “chose to kick the can down the road.”
Rep. Tom Latham, R-Ames, said that just as the bailout of Wall Street had failed, another “poorly crafted bailout plan will not truly solve the ills of the auto industry.”
Congressman Leonard Boswell, D-Des Moines, has not issued a statement regarding the bailout.
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