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.
President Bush kept his promise when he vetoed the new farm bill Wednesday. It is almost certain that the veto will be overridden by Congress.In his veto message to Congress, Bush stated that the bill "lacks program reform and fiscal discipline." He criticized the bill for continuing subsidy programs and increasing spending by $20 billion, while using "budget gimmicks to hide" the spending increases. "It is inconsistent with our objectives in international trade negotiations, which include securing greater market access for American farmers and ranchers. It would needlessly expand the size and scope of government. Americans sent us to Washington to achieve results and be good stewards of their hard-earned taxpayer dollars. This bill violates that fundamental commitment," stated Bush.
All current farm programs, including the food stamp program, will expire on Friday, May 23, putting Congress in the position of needing to act quickly to override the veto.
The National Farmers Union announced Wednesday that a coalition of more than 1,000 agricultural groups and organizations was working together to urge Congress to quickly override the president's veto of the farm bill.
UPDATE: The U.S. House of Representatives successfully voted to override the presidential veto of the new farm bill Wednesday afternoon.
The House approved the veto override by a vote of 316-108. The Senate is expected to hold a veto override vote later this week.
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