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 announcement that Ohio Sen. George Voinovich and Missouri Sen. Kit Bond will retire instead of running for re-election in 2010 has the pundits once again whispering about Iowa’s senior senator.
Charles Grassley, who will be 77 in 2010, is being frequently included in lists generated by political prognosticators like NBC’s Chuck Todd, The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza and The Atlantic Monthly’s Marc Ambinder of Republican senators quietly considering joining Voinovich in retirement. But apparently no one bothered to actually ask him.
“We appreciate you taking time to check with us. Those writing these reports haven’t ever done so,” said Beth Pellett Levine, Grassley’s press secretary. “Sen. Grassley has held eight fundraisers since Election Day, and 10 more are scheduled. Like he’s always said, Sen. Grassley is running for reelection to the U.S. Senate.”
Skeptics will be quick to point out that Voinovich’s spokesperson also flatly denied the Ohio Republian’s retirement rumors. And when it comes to fundraising, both men had more than $2.5 million cash-on-hand according to paperwork filed with the Federal Election Commission Sept. 30, so it wouldn’t be unprecidented for a veteran Republican lawmaker to walk away from a substantial campaign war chest. But for now, Grassley is trying to tamp down the rumors.
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