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Open letter to readers: Today and tomorrow

By Lynda Waddington | 11.17.11

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.

ACS lockout continues; plan emerges to repeal sugar protections

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By Virginia Chamlee | 11.15.11

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.

Cain campaign: Farmers know more about regulations than EPA

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By Andrew Duffelmeyer | 11.15.11

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.

Mathis wins, Democrats maintain Senate control

Liz Mathis
By Lynda Waddington | 11.08.11

The Iowa Senate will remain under the control of a slim 26-25 Democratic majority when it reconvenes in January 2012.

Press Release

PR: Nation should work to address veterans’ challenges

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

BRUCE BRALEY RELEASE — As US involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan ends, it’s more important than ever that our nation works to address the challenges faced by the men and women who fought there.

PR: Honoring veterans, help in hiring

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

CHUCK GRASSLEY RELEASE — A difficult job market is challenging the soldiers, sailors and airmen who have protected America’s interests by serving in the Armed Forces.

PR: In honor of America’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

TOM LATHAM RELEASE — No one has done more to secure the freedom enjoyed by every single American than our veterans and those currently serving in the armed services.

PR: Honoring and supporting our nation’s veterans

By Press Release Reprints | 11.11.11

DAVE LOEBSACK RELEASE — Veterans Day is an opportunity to reflect on the service of generations of veterans and to honor the sacrifices they and their families have made so that we may live in peace and freedom here at home.

Report: Failure to extend unemployment benefits unprecedented

By Annie Lowrey | 06.30.10 | 10:30 am

Congress has never before let federally extended unemployment benefits drop with an unemployment rate so high, according to a searing new report from the National Unemployment Law Project and the Center for American Progress.

The report analyzes the historical scope of the current unemployment benefits extension, and argues for the value of the benefits for families and — especially — the many millions classified as long-term unemployed. It notes that in the past, Congress has extended benefits until the unemployment rate has dropped to 7.2 percent or lower. Economists do not project the jobless rate to fall that low until at least 2013.

House and Senate Democrats are currently mounting a push to re-up federally extended unemployment benefits for another three months or more. Republicans say they will not vote for bills that increase the deficit. Most unemployment extension bills cost around $35 billion — about one percent of the $3.6 trillion federal budget.

Comments

  • cg1982

    I am willing to work 18 hours a day for $2 dollars per/hour. My extension benefits stopped two and a half weeks ago. I have been everywhere for a job. I am used to making no less than $14 dollars per/hour but i have been to every McDonalds and BK around for minimum wage and still have heard nothing. I am still and definately have been trying to get any work but nothing. My little girl cries every night for half the night because we have beeen keeping the air conditioner on 85 degrees and a three year old has trouble adjusting and when she wakes up so hot crying and asks for juice and i have to watch her cry even harder because we are out of juice and have no more money to get her any and she has to drink tap city water that seriously has a brown tint because the pipes are so old and has never been changed and taste and even strongly smells like chemicals because they trying to kill all the germs and disease that come from those century old pipes. I, a grown man, have cried myself to sleep on more than one occasion since all this started. But I do not cry because I need or want anything, i can handle more misery without ever even thinking of shedding a tear but having to watch your own beautiful, perfect,innocent little three year old angel suffer and really suffer like she should never have to especially with two parents who have always had a job will make any real man cry. Thank you Congress. We ( true workers who were laid off and have given it there all plus some to get any job and have not gotten any responses) should not have to watch our babies be hot and hungry and thirsty and soon to have no shelter at all because Congress and the US is more willing to give a billion dollars for earthquakes in another third world country. Thanks for passing a bill today to send something like 36 billion dollars to our troops to continue to fight a war that we can never completely win and stop terrorism. What about all the money put towards giving healtrhy men and women who have never held a job or never even tried to work food stamps and welfare checks over and over and over again for their whole lives just because they are comfortable living in housing projects which our taxpayers money also pays for at times when there is no problems findind jobs? What about my innocent little girl whose mother and father have always went to work everyday just so she can have a comfortable life? What about continuing to give to her when you have given constantly to so many undeserving bums who spend their whole lives collecting every check possible from the US and constantly committing crimes to support their drug and alcohol habbbits? And what about those who constantly live off welfare that decide to have as many babies as possible to get an extra check that you all have always given to no matter if their parents have never worked one day in their life and are content with staying that way? WHAT ABOUT MY INNOCENT LITTLE GIRL WHOSE PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO DO THE BEST THEY COULD FOR HER WITHOUT EVER COLLECTING ANY WELFARE OR FOODSTAMPS OR ASSISTED LIVING. WHAT ABOUT US WHO HAVE NEVER TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM? I BET YOU GUYS DID NOT STOP GIVING OUT WELFARE CHECKS OR STOP GIVING PARENTS WHO DO NOT EVER WANT TO WORK AND NEVER HAVE WORKED ANOTHER CHECK FOR EVERY EXTRA CHILD THEY CONCEIVE. EVERYONE IN CONGRESS WHO VOTED AGAINST GIVING PEOPLE LIKE ME UI BENEFITS SHOULD REALLY THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING I JUST BROUGHT UP AND YOU SHOULD BE SICK OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. CONGRESS,YOU TAKE MUCH BETTER CARE OF PEOPLE WHO DONT WANT TO DO ANYTHING EXCEPT SIT HOME THEIR WHOLE LIVES COLLECT A CHECK AND DRINK 40s ALL DAY ON THE BLUE COLLARED WORKERS TAX MONEY. IF ANY OF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD YOU SHOULD REALIZE THAT YOU ARE ONE DAY GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER FOR LETTING THE CHILDREN OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALWAYS SWEAT BLOOD AND TEARS JUST TO MAKE SURE THEIR FAMILIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND NEVER HAVE TO GO TO BED HUNGRY AND MISERABLE FROM TRYING TO SLEEP IN A HOUSE THAT IS 85 DEGREES. YOU JUST KNOW THAT I WILL LITERALLY STARVE TO DEATH AND I WILL DO ANYTHING I CAN SO MY FAMILY CAN SURVIVE. CONGRESS, HAVE A WONDERFUL 2 WEEK JULY 4TH VACATION. I HOPE FOR YOUR KIDS SAKE THAT YOU NEVER HAVE TO WATCH THEM TRULY PHYSICALLY SUFFER LIKE MINE. BUT ASIDE FROM ALL THE SUFFERING WE DOING I STILL THANK GOD EVERY DAY FOR WHAT WE STILL HAVE. IN MANY FAMILIES BOTH PARENTS WERE RELYING ON UNEMPLOYMENT AND HAVE BEEN CUT. IF IT WERE NOT FOR MY WIFES 32 HOURS A WEEK 9 DOLLAR AN HOUR JOB WE WOULD REALLY BE WITHOUT ANY FOOD OR ELECTRICITY. LUCKILY WE WORKED HARD ENOUGH THAT WE OWN OUR HOME BUT WHO KNOWS BEFORE LONG WE MAY HAVE TO SELL IT JUST TO EAT. THANKS AGAIN SENATE YOU GUYS REALLY ARE FOR HARDWORKING BLUE COLLARED AMERICANS AND FOR HELPING THEIR FAMILIES SURVIVE WHEN WE ARE IN MORE DESPERATE NEED THAN EVER AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL THAT I CAN DO EXCEPT TURN TO A LIFE OF CRIME. LUCKY FOR EVERYONE THAT I AM A CHRISTIAN AND FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT YOU REAP WHAT YOU SEW. BUT AMERICA IS GONNA SEE A LOT MORE CRIME AND DANGER EVERYWHERE BECAUSE WHEN GOOD PEOPLE ARE WATCHING THEIR CHILDREN AND WIVES STARVE AND THERE LIVES BECOME IN DANGER THEY WILL DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO HELP THEM NO MATTER WHAT THE COST. AND EVEN THOUGH THESE PEOPLE ARE HARDWORKING PEOPLE WHO TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES NOT ALL OF THEM ARE CHRISTIANS LIKE ME AND THEY WILL DO ANYTHING TO KEEP THEIR KIDS FROM STARVING EVEN AT THE COST OF ANOTHER GOOD PERSON. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Kim72

      Could not have said it better myself! I am a single mom of 2 teenagers and am trying to live on child support, which is not do-able. My parents have had to pay my rent for July, as well as my electric bill. My phone will be off on Monday because I can't pay it. So, how do I get a job with out a phone? I have a 1/4 tank of gas that has to last and about 5 days worth of food left. My daughter came down with strep throat this week because someone didn't care enough to keep their child home when they contracted it, so that cost me 60.00. I submit about 30 resumes a week, and have been for a year now. I can't find a job!!!! DO SOMETHING TO CREATE JOBS AND WE WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK!!!!!!!! NEXT WEEK MY KIDS WILL BE OUT OF FOOD AND I WILL BE OUT OF GAS, WHAT DO I DO THEN?!?!?!?!

  • jobee156

    I been working to the bones in this country,I was Injured in my job and kept on working with restriccions for a while, the business was sold and the new owner a Corean woman Fired the employees!!! I was one of them,I made a claim for unemployment .. DENIED !! they said that I am to sick to work,, I applied for Disability … DENIED !! they said I am able to find a sitting position Job, no income from nowhere, went to apply for food stamps they approved 1 month ,the following month they cut my food stamps because I 've reported a dessert lot that was a gift from my father and I've been trying to sell for almost 5 years until this day for pennies and nobody want it I am getting food from churches and living under my daughter part time job income, she had to quit her college to help me and my family is helping me with my bills for now, selling thing from my apartment getting rid of thing like a 99cent store. But …I know a lot of people that has benefits without working 1 single day here and they get SS, MEDICAL, FOOD STAMPS, SSI, and live in big houses,and travel once a year to their country to visit there family and collect the rent from the houses that they have overthere too. Incredible!!!!

    I been looking for a job everywhere but in my situation is difficult and is almost a year and nothing has change ,every day besides my physical pain I have change emotionalIy,I 've lost interest in everything and I cannot understand this system is SO UNFAIR.

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