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.
Earlier: Former House Speaker Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, is attempting to attach a ban on same-sex marriage as an amendment to House File 811, the state’s health and human services budget.
The move follows an attempt this morning by Republican House leadership to bring about a vote on a constitutional amendment by invoking Rule 60, which allows a majority vote on the floor of the House to pull a bill out of a committee even if the committee has not approved it.
Democratic House Speaker Pat Murphy ruled the motion out of order. Democratic leadership in both chambers has said flatly there will be no vote on an amendment.
Later, House Minority Leader Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, told The Des Moines Register that there would be another attempt to force the issue later in the day.
Leaders from both parties are currently discussing the amendment.
Update (3:50 PM): Speaker Pat Murphy ruled State Rep. Christopher Rants out of order but said it would be in order if the House agreed to suspend the rules to allow a House File to be changed to a House Joint Resolution. Rants motioned to suspend the rules, and his motion failed. Two Democrats, State Reps. Geri Huser and Dolores Mertz voted “yea” with the Republicans.
Update (4:15 PM): Let the spin begin – Same-sex marriage opponents are calling the failed vote to suspend rules proof that “54 House Democrats favor gay marriage.”
Democrats say Republicans are playing politics with a bill that funds health care for children, Medicaid programs for the poor and elderly, foster care and services for veterans.
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