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.
State Rep. Chris Rants, R-Sioux City, has filed an amendment to a government reorganization bill that would automatically opt Iowa out of any health care reform legislation passed at the federal level.
If health care reform includes an option for states to opt out of any public insurance component, then Rants’ amendment to Senate File 2088, if passed, would mean the Hawkeye State would do so automatically.
The state House could start debate on government reorganization as early as Thursday night at 5:30 pm.
Only the U.S. House’s version of health care reform legislation includes a public option, which is basically a non-profit insurance plan to compete with private companies. But the House version does not include an opt-out clause.
The senate bill contains no public option at all.
Here is the full text of Amendment 8073:
If on or after the effective date of this division of this Act, the United States Congress enacts or otherwise imposes requirements that obligate the state to engage in any new activity, to provide any new service, or to provide any service beyond that required by any law enacted or requirement otherwise imposed prior to the effective date of this division of this Act related to health care reform, and the United States Congress allows a state to opt out of any of the requirements enacted or otherwise imposed, it is the intent of the general assembly that the state shall exercise its right to opt out of all of the requirements for which that option is available and for which the United States Congress does not appropriate moneys to fully fund the cost of the requirement enacted or imposed.
Follow Jason Hancock on Twitter
Do you know where to vote on Election Day? Do you know what to bring with you? Get comprehensive voter information for your state here.
Sign up for our email newsletter