Iowans have had their attention distracted by a gaggle of presidential candidates with gaggles of supporters and political writers in tow. Iowans thus can be forgiven if they have lost track of some other issues closer to home.
So, today we offer a thumbnail sketch of a dozen of those issues and a dozen people who will be worth watching as those issues make the news this year. You might call it 12 issues and 12 people to watch in ’12.
There will be a farm bill to debate in Congress, with implications for Iowa farmers. There could be implications for the quality of the soil and water in Iowa, too, if Congress eases conservation rules.
