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.
Gov. Chet Culver’s chief of staff went on the media offensive Saturday morning to end conjecture that Democrats are planning to sell the lottery to private interests.
The move comes two days after Republican legislative leaders expressed anger at media speculation that the deal is already done, later calling on the state to sell the lottery to Iowa’s pension fund.
In an interview with Radio Iowa’s O. Kay Henderson, Culver’s top aide Charlie Krogmeier said the lottery will not be part of the state budget plan the governor presents to lawmakers in a few days.
“It seems like this thing is getting a little more hype than is warranted and every day there’s another either story or somebody wanting to join in on what they’re calling, ‘the governor’s plan to sell the lottery,’” Krogmeier said. “There is no governor’s plan to sell the lottery. There never has been.”
The Des Moines Register, which has been the main source of most of the lottery sale speculation, quotes Krogmeier as blaming the Republicans for using the rumor for political gain.
“This has become nothing more than a silly political game that some in the Republican Party want to play, and at a time when Iowans want a balanced budget and deserve bipartisan results,” Krogmeier said.
Culver and legislative Democrats said recently that a sale or lease of the lottery is not off the table due to a tough budget year, and the governor did hold a meeting last month with a group interested in purchasing the state’s lottery.
Follow Jason Hancock 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