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.
Steve King
U.S. Rep. Steve King‘s assertion that his opponent on the Nov. 2 ballot had not earned the right to a public debate riled Iowa Democrats, who accuse the incumbent Republican of hiding from his challenger.
“Surely a four-term Congressman like Steve King is capable of debating the issues, the only question is why he feels his constituents don’t deserve the chance to make an informed decision in this election,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chairwoman Sue Dvorsky, later adding: “It’s disappointing that Steve King, who never misses an opportunity to comment on an issue, is hiding from a real debate with his opponent.”
King was confronted by his Democratic opponent, Matt Campbell, at a town hall forum in Sioux City. Campbell asked King directly if he would agree to a public debate before the election, and King replied that “judging by the fashion with which you’ve conducted yourself, you have not earned it.” King has never debated one of his Democratic opponents, but shortly after Campbell was victorious in the June primary, a spokesperson for the congressman said a debate would take place “if he has an opponent running a credible and positive campaign.”
Campbell easily won the Democratic primary in June.
“Steve King has never held himself accountable to the voters of Iowa in eight years and needs to fulfill his responsibility to the Democratic process,” Campbell said. “Steve King is playing games when in reality he’s the one not respecting the process.”
Campbell first spoke to King in person at an event in Storm Lake. He said King has since ignored letters and phone calls from his campaign to discuss his participation in a formal debate, which has been informally set by KTIV-TV in Sioux City for Oct. 23.
In an interview with the Sioux City Journal’s Bret Hayworth, King dismissed the idea that debating a political opponent is indeed a vital part of the American campaign process, saying “I don’t know where that rule would be written.”
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