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.
Bob Vander Plaats‘ supporters are hoping they can convince delegates to the Republican Party of Iowa’s statewide convention Saturday to name him the GOP’s candidate for lieutenant governor, The Iowa Republican reports.
If it happens, some might see the move as a compromise between Vander Plaats’ supporters — primarily evangelical and social conservatives — and the party nominee Terry Branstad‘s supporters — moderate and fiscal conservatives. But the method used to do it might reflect poorly on the party, Republican blogger Craig Robinson contends:
If the delegates do nominate Vander Plaats, it will be an embarrassment to the Republican gubernatorial nominee, Terry Branstad. Instead of the convention serving as a spring board for the his campaign into the general election, it could turn into some sort of reality television program that could squander the Republicans’ opportunity to gain seats in this fall’s election.
Branstad and Vander Plaats’ relationship has been icy at best. During the primary lead-up, Vander Plaats launched repeated attacks on Branstad. The politically influential Christian organization Iowa Family Policy Center has vowed to sit out of the gubernatorial race because Vander Plaats didn’t win the nomination.
For his part, Vander Plaats has thus far refused to formally endorse Branstad’s candidacy. Shortly after the primary, reports circulated that Vander Plaats had approached Branstad about a spot on the ticket and was rebuked, prompting him to consider running this fall as an independent.
A Branstad-Vander Plaats ticket might appease some of those social conservative voters who aren’t happy with Branstad’s primary victory, but most believe the odds are slim that a Vander Plaats’ lieutenant governor bid will come from Branstad.
“If you think there’s any chance Branstad is going to willingly pick Vander Plaats as his running mate in the interest of some nebulous notion of party unity, then I’ve got some available land in Coralville where the Chuck Wagon once wanted to spend $50 million of your money to build an indoor rain forest to sell you,” Christian radio show host and Vander Plaats supporter Steve Deace wrote on Tuesday.
Vander Plaats-faithful would have to rally enough delegates to reject whoever Branstad picks as a running mate and then vote in favor of Vander Plaats as the Republican Party’s lieutenant governor pick.
Democrats dealt with a similar challenge at their convention earlier this month. Barb Kalbach moved to challenge Lt. Gov. Patty Judge for her spot on the general election ticket. The party squelched the challenge by changing its constitution and giving the gubernatorial nominee sole responsibility to select a running mate.
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