If any of you watch C-Span you probably saw a lot of me this week. We have been busy debating the federal budget on the Senate floor. Things on the hill always get hectic when the budget resolution comes up and we all spend a lot of time in the Senate Chamber.

I offered several amendments that would mesh the demands of the Finance Committee with the numbers in the budget. From a Finance Committee perspective, where I'm the ranking member, we might as well just write 60 vote bills designed to ignore the budget. The only thing certain with this budget is that new spending will occur. The deficit impact of not realistically dealing with the tax, trade, and health policy spending priorities of the Finance Committee disguises the deficit built into this budget.

The Senate did unanimously approval one of my amendments to freeze a $17 million increase for the Smithsonian Institution until the Smithsonian makes a series of ethics and accountability reforms in the secretary’s office. I've been riding herd on the Smithsonian because of what I believe is a terrible misuse of taxpayer dollars being spent on things such as $1.15 million in housing allowances over a six-year period in return for agreeing to use the Secretary's home for Smithsonian functions.

You also may have noticed that I pulled from consideration my amendment that would have limited the amount of farm payments an individual could receive. Throughout this debate I have been hearing concerns from Senators who were considering voting against my payment limits amendment simply because it was on a non-binding budget resolution. I don't want my colleagues to have any excuses to vote against good policy, so Senator Dorgan and I asked for the amendment to be pulled from consideration. Placing a hard cap on farm payments and getting rid of the loopholes that are being used to help big farms get even bigger remains a top priority for me as we begin debate on the farm bill and I'm confident we’ll have the votes to get it done.

My committee assignments have also been keeping me on my toes. During a Judiciary Committee meeting yesterday we were discussing the administration’s dismissal late last year of U.S. Attorneys. I expressed my support of giving the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, in consultation with the ranking member, the authority to issue subpoenas to White House officials regarding the Committee’s inquiry on this matter.

I wanted to express my support for getting the facts out on the table. The sooner we do that, the better. The executive branch - no matter who is President - is almost always extremely resistant to oversight requests from Congress. For example, I've been very frustrated in my efforts of the last year to get information about the Food and Drug Administration's actions with regard to an antibiotic. The FBI has continued to stonewall several of my requests. Congress has a constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight. I've worked to meet that responsibility both when the spotlight is on an issue and when it's not. Congress’ inquiries need to be legitimate oversight. I want to make sure that we do the right thing for the American people.

This time of year in Washington is notoriously busy for another reason too. People from all of the country and world start filling up the halls of the office buildings and streets of the city. I want to remind you that if you are planning a visit to our Nation’s Capital that you stop by and see me. I always do my best to take time to visit with my fellow Iowans. Be on the lookout for your pictures appearing on the photo section of my website too.

I hope everyone is finally thawing out from the classic Iowa winter and we’re all able to get outside and enjoy spring as soon as possible.