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.
In an interview with the Carroll Daily Times Herald, U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, repeated his prediction that Republicans are unlikely to be in control of the U.S. House after the Nov. 2 elections.
King predicted the Republicans would come up three to five seats short of overtaking the Democrats in the House. Democrats currently hold at 253-178 advantage.
From Butch Heman of the Times Herald:
“Unless we come forward with a definitive program that will tell the American people what we will do in say the first hundred days, then I don’t think we win the majority,“ he said. “If we make it clear and the people agree, then I think we win the majority. I’m convinced that there are over a hundred seats in play, but in play is a lot different than winning.”
King says Republican candidates need a concise message and that he agrees with most of the “Contract From America” priorities being pushed by tea-party groups, such as demanding a balanced budget, ending runaway government spending, stopping tax hikes and rejecting the “cap and trade” approach to emissions control.
“For me, item number one has got to be the repeal of Obamacare,” he said. “If we can’t get that done, if we can’t agree that’s what we want to do, then I don’t think we can make the case for the rest of the things that need to happen either.”
King has been one of the most outspoken critics of health care reform legislation that passed earlier this year. When his fellow Republicans began wavering on whether complete repeal of the legislation was a viable strategy, King said the party would either “stand unanimously together for 100 percent repeal… or our ranks will be split and our effort defeated.” He also said the legislation was incompatible with freedom.
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