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.
Taxes aren’t the only thing Iowans for Tax Relief and U.S. Rep. Steve King want to know about on a new automated call. They also want to gauge opinion on abortion and same-sex marriage.
King, a Kiron Republican who represents Iowa’s 5th District, is the voice on the call, which is reportedly being made on behalf of Iowans for Tax Relief, a conservative group led by Ed Failor Jr. Recipients said the call begins with a brief introductory monologue by King that is followed by a keypad response question on federal deductibility, which includes jabs at state Democrats and Gov. Chet Culver.
Following the financial question, however, recipients are then asked for their positions on same-sex marriage and abortion. Those who answer that they support a ban on marriage equality and abortion are then asked to make a donation by phone. If that request is refused, King states that more information will be sent to the recipient by mail.
Recipients report that caller ID shows either “202-461-3661″ or “Washington DC 202-461-3661.” Calls identified by this number were most recently received during the Massachusetts special U.S. Senate election, where recipients reportedly were asked if their preference was to use U.S. taxpayer dollars to help the people of Israel or Africa. Locally the call has been received on both land lines and cellular phones.
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