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.
More Iowa women need to consider running for political office.
That’s the message the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women and other advocacy groups tried to drive home Tuesday at the State Capitol.
“Even though we have a record number of women in the Iowa Legislature — 34 — the bar keeps on getting raised, but we’re still below the national average,” said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, during a press conference attended by 35 people.
“If you know a great woman,” Bystrom said. “Ask that woman to run.”
The high-profile presidential race between Democratic rivals Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama has heightened awareness of gender and race in politics. The campaigns of Clinton, a woman, and Obama, an African-American, can serve as an inspiration for women and minorities to run for political office, officials said.
“There’s going to be an historic nominee on the ticket no matter who that is,” Bystrom said.
Woman are underrepresented in all levels of government, said Iowa Secretary of State Michael Mauro. The United States ranks 66th in the world for female elected officials, he said. Between 1945 and 2005, there were 37 female prime ministers and 34 female presidents of other countries, he said.
“We can do better,” he said.
Lt. Gov. Patty Judge urged women to give politics a try.
“I hope you will seriously give it a shot,” she said.
Having more women in government makes it more likely that attention will be paid to issues of domestic violence, health care, child care, rape response, family leave and family well-being issues, Mauro said.
“Women emphasize and understand women’s issue,” he said. “Many women’s issues are marginalized when there is inadequate female representation.”
He added: “Women bring a new perspective to the debate. Many of the issues that women address are important to everyone.”
State Sen. Staci Appel, a Democrat from Ackworth, said she had four kids and was pregnant during her campaign. She said women can run and win.
“Decide in your mind and heart that you will make a difference,” she said. “And then full steam ahead.”
States that elect women tend to be more urban and liberal and have a changing population, Bystrom said. But, that doesn’t mean Iowa can’t boost the number of women politicians, she said. The center she manages is doing just that by encouraging and training women for leadership and political careers.
“It’s a great year to run,” she said. “Change is still in the air.”
The deadline to file papers to fun for state and federal legislative offices is March 14. Filing for county offices opened this week; the deadline is March 26.
The Iowa Association of School Boards, Iowa Department of Human Rights, Iowa League of Cities, Iowa League of Women Voters and Iowa State Association of Counties co-hosted the bi-partisan effort.
Photo, from L to R: Mary Ann Spicer, president of Sisters on Target; Connie Boesen and Patty Link, both members of the Des Moines school board; Lt. Gov. Patty Judge and Courtney Greene, spokeswoman for the governor’s office.
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