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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.
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The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.
About 25 people met on Sunday in Iowa City to discuss and develop environmental policies for their precinct caucuses. They drafted “planks” (also called platforms) for energy policy, air quality, urban growth boundaries and in-fill development. Some of the participants identified themselves as being part of a presidential campaign, others were concerned about public health and safety, and many had concerns about global warming.
Jane I. Duax organized the event, the seventh in a continuing series of discussions around the state. She said that the meetings would likely continue after the Iowa caucuses so that resolutions can be refined and accepted at county conventions and eventually state conventions.
Duax, who works for Plains Justice in Cedar Rapids, led the discussion and will compile and distribute the results before Iowans gather in their precincts to vote on Jan. 3, 2008.
More videos from the event available below the fold.
Another participant, Kristi Lohmeier, works for the Iowa Policy Project. She was excited to see such a diverse range of participants and took away a big-picture, “holistic” view of the process.
Lohmeier said she sees the state of Iowa “on the cusp of making some big policy decisions, and they know what the I.U.B. [Iowa Utilities Board] thinks, the state knows what the Sierra Club thinks,” but they haven’t heard from other groups. She also said IPP is working to develop support for legislation that protects people on a number of levels.
Andrew Snow called the meeting “the beginning of the process” to building consensus for environmental policy. “The action is at the caucus,” when people can draft resolutions and add planks to party platforms, he said.
Snow works for the Sierra Club as a regional representative.
Plains Justice Environmental caucuses continue this week in Eldridge and Davenport, Iowa.
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