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.
Rep. Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, told The Des Moines Register this morning that he has asked his party to consider ousting current House Minority Leader Christopher Rants, R-Sioux City, and has offered himself as a replacement.
Paulsen, who was first elected to the House in 2002 and currently serves as the minority whip, told the paper that it is no secret that he is running for minority leader.
“I think Republicans need to take a step back and doing business as usual, I think, is the wrong picture,” Paulsen said. “That’s not to say Christopher will or won’t move in the same or a new direction but we’re at 44 seats. I think now is the right time to make that change.”
House Republicans are scheduled to meet Monday to decide if a change in leadership is apropriate after losing seats in the Iowa House three election cycles in a row. Rants was chosen as House Speaker in 2002 when the GOP had a 54 to 46 advantage in the House. Democrats gained seats in 2004 and took the majority in 2006. Tuesday, the Democrats expanded their majority even further.
Both Paulsen and Rants could not be reached by the Iowa Independent for comment.
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