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.
Iowa’s Republican Senator has found an important ally in his quest to reign in tax-exempt religious charities.From Washington Independent‘s Mike Lillis:
WASHINGTON, DC — Last November, Sen. Charles Grassley (R) sent letters (pdf) to six of the nation’s largest ministries asking for information about their finances. The request was in response to concerns that church leaders were abusing their tax-exempt status — concerns that seem to be merited in the wake of numerous reports about the platinum lifestyles adopted by some of these folks. (Think: private jets; Trump Tower condos in Manhattan; beachfront Malibu villas — everything a good ascetic needs).
Four months later, however, only two of the six have supplied any information, with one more indicating an intention to do so. The other three, according to a statement (pdf) from Grassley issued Wednesday, are fighting the senator’s request, citing their right to privacy or doubting the authority of the Finance Committee — of which Grassley is the highest ranking Republican — to access the information.
In response, Grassley this week is taking another stab, and he’s recruited a powerful ally in the form of Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.). In another round of letters delivered yesterday, the duo gently reminds the church leaders that even God’s institutions are not above Washington’s tax laws.
While the inquiry is not part of an enforcement action, which would properly belong to the IRS, it is within the jurisdiction of the Committee to make these inquiries. The Committee conferred with the Senate Legal Counsel to ensure that the letter was well within the scope of the authority of the Committee and that it does not infringe upon First Amendment rights.
Grassley and Baucus have given until the end of the month for the churches to reply. Expect lawyers to be involved.
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