Grassley News
WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the U.S. Department of Health and ... Read More >>
WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the U.S. Department of Health and ... Read More >>
Grassley Blog
Iowa’s wind energy industry deserves a round of applause. Iowa recently moved past ... Read More >>
Here’s what editors and pundits say about Senator Grassley ---
"If there's one guy who may hold the whole health-care world in his hands, it's Sen. Chuck Grassley...He has an unusually tight relationship with his Democratic counterpart, Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus. And he vowed early on that if there was a deal to be found, he'd find it...Mr. Baucus knows that most major sustainable legislative achievements - from the Reagan tax cuts to welfare reform - have had bipartisan support. Getting Mr. Grassley's imprimatur meant getting moderate Republicans, maybe even a sizeable chunk of the GOP. It meant shoring up nervous Dems. It meant a health reform that might last. It also meant listening to Mr. Grassley. Committed as he's been to getting legislation, the Iowan has been clear on what he considers nonnegotiable. The White House and liberal Democrats have cavalierly ignored these parameters, vexing him greatly in the process. There are growing signs the Republican may exit the table. He won't have walked away; he'll have been shoved. Mr. Grassley took President Obama at his word that the goal of this exercise was to lower costs and insure more Americans...The White House has unwisely needled the key Republican. Mr. Grassley takes his bipartisanship seriously and likes to note that he and Mr. Baucus craft proposals jointly, starting with a blank sheet of paper...The sight of the Republican most committed to getting a deal being dissed by the White House and a maniacal Senate leadership will dissuade further GOP compromise. Combined with the Congressional Budget Office's terrifying analyses of how much this will cost, and its pronouncement yesterday that none of the existing Democratic bills will cut federal health costs, a Grassley defection could even cost Mr. Obama Democrats. Mr. Grassley goes his own way, and he may yet irk Republicans. But so far he's serving as a good litmus test of how committed the Democratic majority is to working with the other side." The Grassley Test, Kimberley A. Strassel, The Wall Street Journal, Friday, July 17, 2009
"Iowans can expect to see a layman's curiosity and a watchdog's tenacity from Sen. Charles Grassley when the Iowa Republican takes his turn today questioning Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor...Grassley's outsider perspective also helps clarify the proceedings - often laden with debates over legal theory - in a way that reflects the concerns of everyday Americans." Court nominee vows impartiality, Tom Beaumont, Des Moines Register, Tuesday, July 14, 2009
"During his campaign for the presidency, Barack Obama pledged to run a government that would adhere to high ethical standards. He pledged to diminish the influence in Washington of special interests by banning from his administration individuals who had worked recently as corporate lobbyists...Sen. Charles Grassley has called upon the administration to do a better job of making public the reasons why waivers have been granted in some cases and recusals deemed appropriate in others...Many Iowans were early supporters of Obama's campaign because they trusted his pledge to make accountability and transparency themes of his administration. The Farm News strongly supports Grassley's request." Grassley demands more transparency, Iowa Farm News Editorial, Friday, June 19, 2009
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is coming at us live, raw and unfiltered. I, for one, like it...I don't know how many hours of my life I've lost listening to politicians recite tired talking points and prepackaged, poll-tested platitudes. I've read thousands of useless, jargon-laden news releases. And by read, I mean skimmed and deleted. Now, we have Grassley, sending out his authentic thoughts in real time from his BlackBerry-clicking thumbs, with unvarnished emotion. I have no problem with that. I applaud it. Agree or disagree, it's hardly business as usual." Tweet on, Grassley, Todd Dorman, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Sunday, June 14, 2009
"Senate Finance Committee ranking member Grassley has forged a reputation as a formidable and relentless watchdog in the Senate." Daily Dose: Player Profile: Sen. Charles Grassley, The Washington Post, Tuesday, June 2, 2009
"A long overdue proposal by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, aimed at ending what he terms "reckless spending on government charge cards," has cleared its first hurdle by passing the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee with no opposition. What Grassley has proposed is a common-sense approach to monitoring the use of government credit and travel cards." Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil Editorial, Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is asking the Food and Drug Administration to explain how it justifies its decision not to hold the manufacturer accountable for marketing a heart valve device without FDA clearance. Grassley raises an important point...Grassley's concerns about the approval of medical devices and improvements to existing devices are valid ones - an issue that needs to be addressed." Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil Editorial, Wednesday, May 6, 2009
"The president has not yet been able to move a controversial bill through Congress with overwhelmingly bipartisan support. If healthcare reform is going to be bipartisan, Obama must convince Grassley to be on board... But the Iowan is no pushover. If the other side is not compromising, Grassley will walk away from the table... Still, Grassley, an avid runner, is very comfortable in his own skin. And he doesn't run from a fight...If Obama wants to strike a bipartisan deal on healthcare, Grassley is the key." Grassley's gusto, The Hill, Wednesday, May 6, 2009
"What's surprising is that Grassley, at age 75, is a devoted Twitterer himself. Why bother? The guy has a Senate seat for as long as he wants it. But Grassley is sincere about this public service stuff, and if someone invented a way to beam his thoughts directly into citizens' minds, he would sign up." In a perfect democracy, all are tweeted equally, Jim Pollock, Des Moines Business Record, Monday, April 27, 2009
"Some 75-year-old politicians need help checking e-mail. Chuck? He Twitters...Watch out, Ashton Kutcher. With stuff like this, Grassley might be building a following." Dubuque Telegraph Herald Editorial, Monday, April 27, 2009
"An AARP-sponsored health plan caught the attention of Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley last year...Grassley began an investigation that led to a report this wek that found AARP had mis-led members about coverage and failed to monitor complaints...Iowa should be proud of Grassley for persisting in this investigation." AARP criticized over health plans, Des Moines Register Editorial, Friday, April 24, 2009
"Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, recently took a wise and proactive step by questioning the then acting head of the Food and Drug Administration about his motives concerning whistleblowers. Grassley has long championed the cause of federal employees who disclose wrongdoing, mistakes and other problems within their agencies...Grassley is right to speak out against silencing these public-spirited men and women before they can tell the American people what they should know." Patriot protection, Omaha World-Herald, Wednesday, April 22, 2009
"His meetings are a testament to his commitment to representative government and his willingness to hear the needs of hard working Iowans." Lime Springs Herald, Thursday, April 16, 2009
"Chuck Grassley reached a milestone a week ago, casting his 10,000th vote in the U.S. Senate...Which is pretty remarkable considering constituents demand the impossible. They want their representatives to play an active role in Washington, D.C., while at the same time attending their bake sales, graduation ceremonies, county fairs and city council meetings. By all accounts, Grassley has managed those dual expectations exceptionally well. He spends weekdays in Washington and weekends, ostensibly, in New Hartford, where he was born. In reality, though, Grassley, 75, is on the road a good portion of every Saturday and Sunday to town hall meetings, veterans' events and chicken dinners. Since his election, Grassley has made a point of making an official visit to each of Iowa's 99 counties every year. Those who have seen him in action around the state appreciate that when he attends an event, Grassley is really there. His attention is focused and he participates...Folks on either side of the political aisle will have a difficult time arguing Iowa hasn't been well represented." Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier Editorial, Thursday, April 9, 2009
"Grassley: He's on the job and in touch." Sioux City Journal Editorial, Tuesday, April 7, 2009
"Even if you don't agree with Grassley, he has a way of making you like and trust him...Grassley has an instinct for the time, the mood and the nature of his constituents' worries." Civility is essential value of democracy, Marc Hansen, Des Moines Register, Monday, April 6, 2009
"The Iowa congressional delegation still welcomes handwritten letters from constituents, but the leader, by far, in high-tech Internet communication is a 75-year-old grandfather - Sen. Chuck Grassley." Chuck goes high-tech, E. Michael Myers, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Thursday, April 2, 2009
"Senator Charles Grassley would be Farmer Man. He's the only member of Congress who can pull off a seed-corn-cap look at a rural event and not look like a fool. Grassley's PR tends to be more verbal - frequent appearances on TV news shows, phone conferences with the press, and his absolutely indefatiguable jaunts to every county in the state every year during his weekends and breaks. You try that - it's a piece of work." Our Congressional "Superheroes", Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune Editorial, Tuesday, March 31, 2009
"U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, who's been here, there, back here again and seems to have clones of himself in order to be so many places at once and say so many things. And when it comes to competing with other areas, we can put Grassley up against both of any other state's senators and still come out on top, don't you think?" Bill Gray, The way the ball bounces, Mt. Pleasant News Editorial, Friday, March 20, 2009
"Washington ruled that the E.P.A. had already provided the evidence necessary to determine farm dust "likely is not safe." In other words, if you created dust in your agricultural operation you are going to have to keep it inside the line fence of your farm or ranch...So here we go again - rules made by people who really don't understand what life is like in farming and ranching communities today...We in agriculture must step up hte pressure on Washington rule-makers to listen to producers in the country before they create more, as Sen. Grassley put it, "non-common sense" ideas to hinder farmers and rachers. Enough of this 'course particulate matter' stuf; it's dust and when the wind blows, the dust will be "blowing in the wind", totally ignoring the government rules." Is this stupidity contagious?, Samuelson Sez, Dyersville Commercial, Wednesday, March 18, 2009
"The Senate rejected Sen. Chuck Grassley's latest attempt to stop the automatic cost-of-living pay raise that Congress gets every year. Grassley said he and his colleagues "should have the guts" to vote on any pay raise they propose. We agree. Congress must account for itself and, especially during this economic recession, should demonstrate more self-restraint." The Gazette's Editorial, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Monday, March 16, 2009
"Grassley frequently posts online updates through the Web site Twitter, the high-tech communication tool that has become all the rage on Capitol Hill...But Grassley said he always has been on the cutting edge of new communications technology, from the fax machines of the 1980s to the early days of e-mail...Grassley uses his BlackBerry to tap out "tweets" about everything from the hot issues of the day to the successes of the men's basketball team at his alma mater, the University of Northern Iowa." Lawmakers a-Twitter at new technology, Joseph Morton, Omaha World Herald, Sunday, March 15, 2009
"It was a good idea in 1975. It's a good idea now. U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley said Wednesday that the Senate rejected an amendment he co-sponsored that would have required the Senate to have a roll call vote on any future pay raise...It may not be a popular view among Grassley's colleagues. But he often has been on the short end of many votes for his often-outspoken stances on wasteful spending in government. In some circles he is viewed as a real-life version of Sen. Jefferson Smith, the character Jimmy Stewart played in Frank Capra's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." That film talks a lot about fighting for lost causes. Getting members of Congress to hold a separate roll-call vote on pay raises may be one of those lost causes. However, as the film says, very often lost causes are the ones worth fighting for. This is one of them. In this and many other cases, Sen. Grassley has proved his mettle and moral compass." Grasley isn't afraid of 'lost causes', The Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier Editorial, Sunday, March 15, 2009
"U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley bravely set the standard when he specifically questioned six U.S. mega-churches that hold tax exemptions. Grassley asked churches to explain lavish furnishings, six-figure salaries and plush travel expenses. Some churches balked, but others welcomed the scrutiny and posted financial details on the Web to become even more transparent. That's our hope locally as well. Such scrutiny encourages our many reputable tax-exempt non-profits to share their stories with the community whose tax dollars also help support them." Tax records do well in sunshine, Quad-City Times Editorial, Sunday, March 8, 2009
"One of the finest examples of across-the-aisle leadership comes from the Senate Finance Committee. There, the traditionally statesmanlike collaboration practiced by Grassley, a Republican, and Sen. Max Baucus, a Montana Democrat, is a model to follow...their commitment to getting important things done has always taken precedence over politics." Baucus-Grassley bipartisanship offers model for health reform, Des Moines Register, Thursday, March 5, 2009
"During the campaign season of 2008, now President Barack Obama promised to bring a new tone to Washington, D.C. - a more civil and less partisan dialogue, with a focus on ensuring the greater good of the country...It was familiar. It wasn't until recently that I was reminded from where, and from whom, I've heard this rhetoric. The answer: Chuck Grassley...As any Iowan who has attended one of Grassley's frequent town hall meetings across the state can tell you, the senator typically shies away from the political - even sometimes personal - sniping that has become commonplace in Washington...He maintains a statesmanlike approach when visiting with his constituents...Take for instance his recent visit to Hopkinton. Iowa's senior senator expressed his opposeition to the recently approved economic stimulus deal. Grassley outlined the reasons he opposed the legislation, while also noting the components he supports. He was clear, concise and diplomatic...After years in Washington, Grassley maintains the diplomatic, non-partisan tone that Obama promises to bring. In both cases the nation is better served because of it." Obama takes page from Grassley, Dyersville Commercial Editorial, Wednesday, March 4, 2009
"Our Position: EPA's standards for controlling fram dust are unrealistic. Under rules imposed by federal regulators in the form of the Environmental Protection Agency in 2006, rural areas would be kept to the same standards as urban areas for what the Environmental Protection Agency calls 'coarse particulate matter' in the air. In essence, farmers can't let dust from their farms out into the open...At least one person is Washington is taking a stand in this matter...We agree with Grassley. If there is a way to control the way the wind blows dust, we'd love to hear it." Dust in the Wind, Council Bluffs Daily Nonpariel Editorial, Tuesday, March 3, 2009
"Something is going on with U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley. You cannot escape the man. Grassley does weekly rounds of conference calls with Iowa reporters from news organizations large and small, as well as a call just for farm reporters, and he's know for his attention to Iowa media. On a recent call with reporters, he pointed out he'd just spent time in the Centerville studio of one participant. But his national profile is robust as well, overcoming the natural drawback of being in the Senate minority. He turns up regularly as a source in national news stories, in print, television, National Public Radio. He's on Twitter (we brought you the breaking news recently that Politico rated him the 7th-best Twitterer in DC) and YouTube...Last month he even co-hosted a show called "Squawk Box" on business channel CNBC, where the cable audience was treated to a full hour of the Iowa farmer/Finance Committee ranking member...The easy conclusion is that Grassley is up for re-election in 2010 and he's scrambling to keep his visibility high. But there's more at work than that. A quote in the Boston Globe likely isn't going to reverberate much in Ottumwa or Sioux Center. Early in his career Grassley gained respect far beyond Iowa as the crusader against wasteful Pentagon spending. His attention has shifted to other issues but the approach is the same, and the impression is left of a miner for shenanigans who leaves no rock unturned...In marketing, it's known as branding. The Grassley brand is being carefully etched in early 2009 just as it was a decade ago, but with the proliferation of media outlets today all of the country is getting a chance to be aquainted with Iowa's senior senator." View from DC: The Grassley Brand, Jane Norman, IowaPolitics.com, Monday, March 2, 2009
"Here are the new maestros of the tweet - Washington's 10 Most Influential Twitterers... 7. Chuck Grassley...Grassley's are personal in an Iowan way: friendly but dry. This 75-year old some-time farmhand Republican has developed quite a following (2,000-plus) with his plain-spoken, Midwest Twittering style." 10 Most Influential Twitterers in Washington, Politico, Monday, February 23, 2009
"During the frenzied, hurried efforts to pass a stimulus bill, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was among the most vocal challengers. He was chastised for not being "bipartisan enough." Since when does true bipartisanship exclude a senator's right to seek fiscal responsibility and ask tough questions? Maybe he was thinking about all this debt on his grandkids' shoulders." Cedar Rapids Gazette Editorial, Friday, February 13, 2009
"From exposing $600 toilet seats at the Pentagon to crafting tax policy, Sen. Charles Grassley has a reputation for being in the thick of things. He should have been in the thick of things all this week. Grassley was one of a handful of Washington lawmakers designated to sit on the House-Senate conference committee charged with crafting the final version of the economic-stimulus legislation. But Grassley was there only in name...he wasn't formally or informally consulted at any point in negotiationg the legislation or invited to conference meetings...That is unfortunate. Iowa's senior senator knows a lot about everything from taxes to health care to energy, and work have had a lot to add to converstations." Des Moines Register Editorial, Thursday, February 12, 2009
"It all started with an $1,800 toilet-seat cover. In that 1980s defense-spending scandal, U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley found a congressional calling: creating uproars that often transform public opinion and policy… But anyone expecting a firebrand will find that the stereotype of the stubborn, “aw shucks” Iowa farmer fits 75-year old Grassley better. His crusading seems populist, but his opposition to abortion and gun control has won him high marks from conservative groups. He is a teetotal Baptist with a sly sense of humor… He developed a reputation for protecting whistle-blowers after he gave critics of Reagan-era defense spending a platform. They have come to him ever since.” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Sunday, February 8, 2009
"Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, also has been looking into the financial relationships between drug companies and doctors, and he advocates legislations that would require drug companies to publicly report the money they give to doctors for activities such as consulting, travel, speeches and meals. Grassley feels the public has a right to know about the financial relationships between doctors, researchers and the people who stand to profit by their expert advice. He's right. Medical providers and medical suppliers should be held to the same high ethical standards - by statute if necessary." The Cedar Rapids Gazette editorial, Tuesday, February 3, 2009
"In a time when wasteful spending is at the forefront of the political scene, it's refreshing to know some politicians are doing their jobs...Grassley is renowned in Washington for using his position on the Finance Committee to practice a particularly aggressive brand of oversight...Grassley said he is pushing for more information about the National Science Foundation because he's concerned the issues in the report speak to a wider, cultural problem at the agency...That is fortunate for us. When Congress is talking about spending billions of our hard-earned dollars, they need to be sure that it is money being well-spent." Keeping Watch, Daily Nonpareil Editorial, Monday, February 2, 2009
"We're proud of Iowa's two senators." Iowa's honest senators, Storm Lake Times Editorials, Saturday, January 31, 2009
"Grassley is renowned in Washington for using his position on the Finance Committee to practice a particularly aggressive brand of oversight." Henry C. Jackson, The Associated Press, Friday, January 30, 2009
"Now, there's a congressional probe of the NSF, led by Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who has been on a crusade against waste, fraud, bed decision-making and general silliness at government health agencies for several years." Alicia Mundy, The Wall Street Journal, Thursday, January 29, 2009
"Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Senate's very own divining rod for governement waste..." Iowa Ear, Des Moines Register, Thursday, January 29, 2009
"A thistle to Frank Ahrens of the Washington Post for a blog belittling wisdom outside the Beltway. Sen. Chuck Grassley quoted a constituent from Dubuque concerned about Treasury nominee Timothy Geithner: "If the man cannot handle his own finances, how is he going to handle the country's" To which Ahrens added: "What would senators do without those plain-speaking constituents in the Dubuques all ove the United States?" What next? Derision for petite, elderly women from Dubuque who prefer comfortable footgear?" Roses & Thistles, Des Moines Register Editorial Staff, Sunday, January 25, 2009
"Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, was right to vote for change and against Tim Geithner for Treasury Secretary this week...Geithner helped to lead us into this mess. He is not the man to help lead us out, unless he proved he learned something. By failing to address Grassley directly, it is obvious he is a flawed candidate." Skeptical senator, Storm Lake Times, Saturday, January 24, 2009
"I really hadn't planned on getting involved in one of these social networks... But now I'm so into all these new fangled ways of staying in touch, and I am blaming it all on U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley, the senior senator from Iowa... Why? Because of my new rule, when it comes to all this communications technology: If Senator Grassley knows how to do it, then I'm going to learn it, too." Chuck Offenburger, I'm just trying to keep up with Senator Grassley, KMA Advantage Club Newsletter, Friday, January 23, 2009
"Grassley wondered, rightly, how much "this troubled tax history" reflected on Geithner's judgement. But that wasn't the best part. The best part came when Grassley wanted to know whether Geithner had used tax software to prepare his taxes. "I will answer that," the nominee said, "but I want to say I take full responsibility. ... It was TurboTax." Wow. A TurboTax flunky could be leading us through the worst financial meltdown since the Great Depression." Like Grassley, you question nominee's judgement, Marc Hansen, Des Moines Register, Thursday, January 22, 2009
"Sen. Charles Grassley's description of Treasury secretary nominee Timothy Geithner's past tax violations as "disconcerting" is right on the mark. ." Question Geithner closely: Trust needed at Treasury, Des Moines Register Editorial, Friday, January 16, 2009
"Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was the first and most consistent voice to take on the Grocery Manufacturer's Association and others when corn prices and corn based ethanol were being blamed for rising food prices...Grassley also championed Iowa in a time of need following spring floods and a May 25 tornado that miraculously hopped over his home farm in New Hartford, Iowa...And he is an excellent example of the bipartisanship voters are demanding in Washington...We don't always agree with Grassley's positions, but in 2008 he reigned supreme in his unabashed support for the ag industry." Pro Farmer's Ag Person of the Year, Pro Farmer, Wednesday, December 24, 2008
"Our Position: Grassley right to call for investigation. Our military men and women enlist and serve in order to keep us safe. Justly, they should have the tools necessary to ensure their safety. Which is why it is a good thing that U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has requested a review of aircraft maintenance at Offutt Air Force base by the Defense Department's inspector general...No matter what the D.o.D. finds, we agree with Grassley that an investigation should be conducted, if for no other reason than to ensure the safety of our citizens, both civilian and military." Our View: Safe Than Sorry, Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, Thursday, December 11, 2008
"He Twitters. He blogs. He's on Facebook. He's also Iowa's 75-year-old senior Sen. Charles Grassley." Iowa Ear, Des Moines Register, Thursday, December 4, 2008
"Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, a longtime critic of excessive farm subsidies said the latest GAO finding confirms the USDA needs an overhaul. He's right." Farming Money, Burlington Hawkeye Editorial, Monday, December 1, 2008
"His (Grassley's) job approval ratings set the gold standard in Iowa, and his seniority is worth a lot to the state." David Yepsen, The Des Moines Register, Tuesday, November 18, 2008
"Grassley is a 'non-profit cop,' who keeps watch on tax-exempt organizations." Look into AARP's nonprofit status, The Des Moines Register Editorial, Monday, November 10, 2008
"The headline on a recent press release from Sen. Chuck Grassley's office proclaims: "Grassley asks AARP about misleading marketing of product called health insurance." Hallelujah. Because what Janice and Gary Clausen of Audubon purchased through AARP shouldn't be considered health insurance - not when it left them owing $250,000 in medical bills...Fortunately, Senator Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, has started to investigate how AARP markets these limited-benefit plans...Grassley is to be commended for asking tough questions of AARP. He is living up to his reputation as a senator who follows up when someone is wronged...Now thanks to Grassley, the country will find out more about the health-care products this nonprofit organization endorses and profits from." Health plans should offer real coverage, The Des Moines Register Editorial, Sunday, November 9, 2008
"Grassley should continue his investigation into this multibillion-dollar issue and pursue legislation to ensure hospitals are actually earning the nonprofit status taxpayers subsidize." Make hospitals earn tax-exempt status, Des Moines Register editorial, Friday, October 17, 2008
"Grassley, Republican of Iowa, patron saint of whistleblowers, would-be regulator of hedge funds and now-seemingly prescient critic of the Securities and Exchange Commission, has, since this past spring, been investigating drug makers' payments to prominent psychiatrists whose research bears the imprimatur of prestigious universities that frequently receive federal grant money." Diagnosis: Greed, New York Times, Thursday, October 9, 2008
“What would a trim 75-year-old grain farmer have to say about drug safety and the payments given to medical researchers by drug companies? Lots if he happens to be Charles Grassley, who has represented the state of Iowa in the U.S. Senate since 1980. As the senior Republican on the Senate’s finance committee and as a senior member of the judiciary committee, he has carved out a role as a relentless watchdog who acts a magnet for whistleblowers in government agencies ranging from the U.S. Department of Defense to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In the last several years, Grassley has set his investigative sights on issues relating to medicine. A leading critic of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since the surprise withdrawal from the market of Merck’s painkiller Vioxx in 2004, Grassley is now focusing on university researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) who haven’t been properly reporting income from drug companies.” Straight talk with...Charles Grassley, Nature Medicine, October 2008
"It is safe to say that the University probably wishes it never heard of Grassley...However, the inquiry provides an opportune moment for political observers to reevaluate the career of a man who, up to now, left-leaning sources have been content to dismiss as a far-right bumpkin...Grassley's career has proven that trying to pigeonholed political personalities is nothing but an exercise in futility." A Man Outside the Movement, Emory Wheel, Monday, October 6, 2008
"Both of our current senators, Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin, might be revered in years to come for their longtime outstanding service to this state and the country. Make no mistake, you won't find better team players for their respective parties than these two, but if anybody truly earns the salaries paid to U.S. senators, these two do." Value people and places, Jeff Orvis, South benton Star-Press Editorial, Wednesday, October 1, 2008
"An obviously indignant U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has forwarded a scathing letter to Kerry Weems, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. With an Iowa bluntness that should be heard more often in Washington, Grassley said he wants a full accounting from the CMS of how the agency provided inaccurate estimates of improper and fraudulent Medicare payments...It's an accounting that's long overdue and one that too few in Congress or the Bush administration deem important...We hope he maintains that laid-back Midwestern attitude and is successful in convincing a majority in both houses of Congress that some serious house cleaning is in order." Our View: Lip service?, Our Position: Grassley questions on fraudulent Medicare payments demand answers, Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil Editorial, Thursday, August 28, 2008
"You have to like the way Sen. Chuck Grassley has of pointing out things the government is doing wrong and that the common person would find appalling. It's just so Iowan when he does that." Grassley, King of Common Sense, Strikes Again, Dubuque Telegraph Herald Editorial, Monday, August 4, 2008
"Food Before Fuel is a slick operation with a nifty Web site. Its arguments might sound compeling, if they were fact-based. A few weeks ago, Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley exposed the campaign for what it actually is; a high-priced smear campaign designed to demonize biofuels." Companies launch push against biofuels, Dirck Steimel, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman, Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Sen. Charles Grassley has an admirable history of looking into institutions and groups that don't seem to be playing fair." More to education than price, Des Moines Business Record, Monday, June 9, 2008
(Grassley) has championed greater openness in government throughout his 28 years in the Senate." Grassley: McCain Better as President Than Bush, The Hill, Tuesday, June 3, 2008
"The slick lobbyists ticked off the wrong guy when they began peddling their stealthy propaganda campaign to demonize corn-based ethanol by claiming it is the main factor driving up food prices for consumers around the world. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley sniffed out the well-funded campaign being launched by one of the capital's top lobbying groups for the Grocery Manufactures of America. Then he exposed it by posting leaked documents about the campaign on his Senate Web site (Grassley.senate.gov). And now, like a good farm dog that nabs a cattle rustler on the back 40, Grassley is not about to let go...Maybe biofuels supporters don't have the high-priced and hired-gun lobbyists in their stable, as the grocery folks do. But they've got a determined and hard-working senator who is armed with the truth. You gotta like those odds." Grassley fights the campaign against biofuels, Dirck Steimel, Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman, Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Anyone who has been to a grocery store recently knows that food prices are up. Some politicians and members of the media have been quick to place a major part of the blame on the growth of the biofuels industries and most particularly the booming production of ethanol in the United States. The anti-ethanol rhetoric has been amazingly ignorant. Sen. Charles Grassley, having heard more nonsense about ethanol than the plain-talking Iowa Republican could stomach, too to the floor of the U.S. Senate May 15 to set the record straight." Chuck Grassley strikes back, Fort Dodge Messenger Editiorial, Sunday, May 25, 2008
Copeland's complaint about Sen. Grassley's right to ask for this information is nothing more than a sideshow...Donors are fortunate that Grassley is using his position to act on their behalf." MinistryWatch.com's Rusty Leonard Responds to Copeland Request for IRS Audit, MinistryWatch.com, Monday, April 21, 2008
"The integrity of Senator Charles Grassley is legendary...The only 'special interest' that influences him is his constituency." The Time 100, pg. 10, TIME, Monday, April 14, 2008
"Grassley deserves credit for taking steps to ensure nonprofits are honest and their tax exemptions are reasonable. he has investigated and questioned agencies all over the country, including the Red Cross, hospitals and televangelists. He knows nonprofits do important work. He also knows there's something wrong when board members collect hundreds of dollars an hour to serve a 'charity'." Credit Grassley for Probing Tax Status of Lush 'Charity', Des Moines Register, Tuesday, February 12, 2008
"Iowans are noted for their down-to-earth common sense, hard work and fiscal responsibility, and Sen. Chuck Grassley is one of our well-respected standard bearers. New Yorkers may not like our senator's straight-forward and folksy ways, but we sure do and that's why we continue to send him to Washington, where we expect him to be honest and keep track of how our hard-earned tax dollars are spent." Jim Daggs of Ackley, Iowa, We're Proud of Our Iowa Ways, Des Moines Register, Sunday, February 10, 2008
"The senator has represented the state of Iowa and the United States well, and even though I may not agree with his every idea, I am proud he is from Iowa." Jerry C. Gamble (an old Iowa Democrat) of Cumming, Iowa, We're Proud of Our Iowa Ways, Des Moines Register, Sunday, February 10, 2008
"The Senate can be a stuffy and self-serving body packed with overly partisan politicians - except that political odd couple, Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley and Montana Democrat Max Baucus...They command the leadership of the most critical committee in the Senate - Finance - overseeing the tax code, Social Security, Medicare, trade - anything that hits your pocketbook...They share a fiscal discipline that is intrinsic in the black soil of Iowa and the windswept plains of Montana." The Yin and Yang of Senate Politics, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Sunday, February 3, 2008
"Grassley is a Christian with a reputation for integrity." Open the Books, Charisma Magazine, February 2008
"If Grassley, a five-term Republican senator and ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, says it, you can most certainly believe it...(Grassley) has earned the admiration of colleagues, constituents and even the long-term care industry he frequently lambastes...What endears the senator to his so-called opponents are the ethics and morals behind his toughness - namely to make sure that the government is using taxpayers' dollars wisely and that the elderly receive a high level of care. It's hard to dispute the strength of his character. One of the longest serving Iowa senators, he has visited all 99 counties a year for the last 27 years. He also holds the record among his Senate peers for the longest streak of not missing roll-call votes." Gentleman Farmer, McKnight's, March 2008, Vol. 29, No. 3
"There's a reason four out of five Iowa voters supported Sen. Chuck Grassley in his last election. It isn't because they always agree with him. It isn't because they are all dyed-in-the-wool Republicans.(Let's not forget, this is the state that also has sent liberal Democrat Tom Harkin to the Senate four times.) It's because Chuck Grassley has the courage to stand up. He has faced down powerful lobbyists, huge corporations, his own colleagues and even President Bush. In a time when political pressure seems to wilt nearly every politician's resolve, Grassley won't bend. If John F. Kennedy were writing "Profiles in Courage" today, Chuck Grassley likely would be one of his subjects. Grassley made his name as a champion of the underdog when he took on the cause of defending whistleblowers... Grassley will plug up the leaks in our tax code whenever he can - even if it means alienating big campaign contributors. It doesn't matter if you disagree with Grassley's votes on the issues. The country would be better off if every state had such a political watchdog. Grassley has been a bloodhound sniffing out the pork in projects. There's a reason Chuck Grassley has served the people of Iowa in the Senate for more than a quarter century. In these times of deep partisanship where lobbyists wield mighty powers over representatives, Grassley stands out as an independent man of courage. In "Profiles in Courage," Kennedy wrote, "We, the people, are the boss, and we will get the kind of political leadership, be it good or bad, that we demand and deserve." Americans must demand more leaders like Chuck Grassley." Grassley fits modern 'Profiles in Courage', Dubuque Telegraph Herald Editorial, Friday, December 28, 2007
"Senator Grassley is not just investigating nonprofit smoke where there's hellfire...In recent years, he has proposed myriad reforms to help ensure that nonprofit organizations put charitable good works before outsized perks...The next president, Democrat or Republican, should have a 'philanthropy czar' in the West Wing whose only job is to report objectively on how the nation's massive nonprofit sector serves the public interest (or not), and to recommend legislative and other reforms to improve the sector's self-governance and call it to public account the way that government once called for-profit corporations to public account. I hereby nominate the steadfast Senator Grassley." Non-Profits Without Honor, The Weekly Standard, Monday, December 10, 2007
"Sen. Charles Grassley is like a nonprofit cop, policing hospitals and charities and trusts. He appreciates the work they do, but insists that they be honest...He brings a little Iowa common sense to tax policy - and accountability to organizations enjoying tax exemptions." Tax-exempt nonprofits beware: Grassley's on patrol, Des Moines Register, Monday, November 19, 2007
"Grassley, a Republican, likes to keep close track of the taxpayers' money. A farm-country conservative, he tries to ferret out wasteful defense spending and other federal boondoggles. The plain-spoken, slightly ornery Grassley is such a tightwad himself that he keeps his air conditioning at 80 degrees." Taxing the Super Rich, Newsweek, July 23, 2007
"It was probably just a matter of time before Senator Chuck Grassley collided with the hedge fund industry. The 73-year old Republican, who grew up on a farm in New Hartford, Iowa, and exudes a 4-H Club earnestness, has spent much of his 33 years in Congress pursuing openness, accountability and transparency...(Grassley) sees himself as a watchdog looking out for the average American, and he is not shy about taking on the powerful and wealthy - or even his own party - that role...The hedge fund industry was on the wrong side of Grassley's three passions: whistle-blowing, pension protection, and transparency." Prairie Watchdog, by Jaye Scholl, Institutional Investor's Alpha, June 2007
"The country is lucky to have Sen. Charles Grassley as ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. He brings Iowa common sense to where it’s desperately needed: tax policy." Tax-loophole users should feel like targets, Grassley hunts down too-sweet deals, The Des Moines Register, Monday, January 22, 2007
"Grassley’s middle name is common sense. He’s spent years closing tax loopholes that allow people to rip off the government. And that farmer who ‘bounces around the family fields’ on his tractor, as the Times put it, finally caught up with city slickers whose ‘donations’ were handing on their living-room wall." Grassley makes sense, artfully, The Des Moines Register, Tuesday, December 12, 2006
"Sen. Charles Grassley may have lost the chairmanship of the Senate Finance Committee, but it hasn’t slowed down his aggressive oversight of the executive branch. ... Apparently the Democrats will not be the only ones perplexing the Bush administration from here on out." Norman: Grassley reaffirms resistance to FDA nominee, Potomac Fever, The Des Moines Register, Sunday, December 3, 2006
"Junior senators should look for allies, and work with them to do something useful. There are a good handful of colleagues on both sides of the aisle who take their current jobs seriously – gentlemen like Charles Grassley or Jeff Bingaman, who are worth getting to know, regardless of party. They don’t make magazine covers, but with some help these diligent lawmakers might restore to the Senate the considerable institutional pride it once deserved." Sit Down and Legislate for a While, by Adam Clymer, The New York Times, November 14, 2006
"Senator Charles Grassley champions choices provided by competitive plans." Keeping Watch,Managed Healthcare Executive, October 2006
"Sen. Charles Grassley deserves praise for working to answer a question for many people have been asking for years: Why do many hospitals -- some of which pay huge CEO salaries, buy property after property, and hound the poor to pay hospital bills -- enjoy preferential ‘nonprofit’ tax status?" Insist hospitals earn their nonprofit status, The Des Moines Register, September 18, 2006
"Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, wields enormous clout in Washington...Grassley keeps close tabs on agencies charged with executing Congressional mandates, including FDA. If it cozies up too tight with the industry, or downplays safety data he thinks consumers need, the self-described 'common-sense Iowan' says he 'sinks his teeth in' and doesn't let go until the problem is solved." A Soft Spot for Whistleblowers, Pharmaceutical Executive, September 2006
"It is gratifying to see the confidence that state and federal officials have in Storm Lake to pull itself up and set the community on a new course. It is also worth noting that Grassley has never been one to pile on the pork despite his seniority. That he and his staff worked this hard to help Storm Lake says something: Never discount the value of long-standing, sincere friendships." Thanks to Sen. Grassley, Storm Lake Times, July 22, 2006
"Considering recent history, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, is right to question the Red Cross’s ability to meet its massive responsibilities. It will take a lot of congressional scrutiny, and possibly significant Red Cross restructuring, to make sure the reforms are effective." It’s Congress’ duty to make Red Cross work, South Bend Tribune, April 12, 2006
"About $300 million of your federal tax dollars go each year to something called "quality improvement organizations." These are private groups in every state that are supposed to investigate complaints from Medicare patients and work with health providers to improve care. Yet it's highly questionable whether you're getting your money's worth. ... The complaint process is badly broken. The Institute of Medicine, the government's health advisory body, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Iowa Republican who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, are calling for a major overhaul in the 25-year-old program. ... It's time for serious answers, plus a guarantee that patients know that their complaints will be heard -- and answered." Got a Medicare complaint? Don't count on relief., USA Today, March 16, 2006
"Last month, congressional critics said the Red Cross fell short after Katrina as it tried to coordinate shelters, get aid to remote locations and cooperate with grassroots organizations that could have done the job but didn't have the money. On Monday, internal Red Cross documents and e-mails released by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, began to reveal why: ... Vigorous oversight should follow. ... In these perilous times, institutions, even iconic ones, must earn the right to the funds they get. And no charity should be able to squander the public's trust or its donations." Black eye for the Red Cross, USA Today, March 1, 2006
"Washington investigations, especially those by independent counsels, can roll on for years, eating taxpayer dollars long after their original purpose has been achieved. So it is with the investigation of former Housing secretary Henry Cisneros, now in its 11th year. ... Some in Congress, particularly Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, worry that IRS abuses could go unexposed. ‘The American taxpayers have spent a lot of money on this report, and they deserve the right to see it,’ Grassley says. We agree. ... Burying his report now serves no such noble goal. Instead, it would give wrong-doers even more reason to believe they can abuse the public's trust, confident that their actions would be hidden from the public's view." Endless probe, secret result, USA Today, Jan. 12, 2006
"Senator Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican who heads the Finance Committee, is trying to close a loophole that allows hunters to write off safaris as charity by giving game trophies to museums. This scheme lets appraisers tote up the costs of things like travel, equipment and guides to inflate the value of the trophies, which often end up at places that market themselves as a way to ''Hunt for Free.'' The scam was uncovered when the Humane Society ..." Get Me the Head of the Hunt Scammer, The New York Times, December. 2, 2005
"Monday’s release order would likely not have come without a different kind of pressure from this page and from Congress – particularly Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley. Last week the Senate passed an amendment he sponsored that would defund Mr. Barrett, as the Democrats wanted. But it would also require publication of his report. In other words, no more delaying tactics. ... After 10 years and $21 million, we think the taxpayers have a right to judge Mr. Barrett’s findings in full." Sunshine for the Barrett Report, Wall Street Journal, Oct. 26, 2005
"A change pushed by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and announced last week by the Treasury Department will introduce some needed flexibility into this [health care spending accounts] system." A Health Cost Fix, The Washington Post, May 23, 2005
"Our technician Senator is climbing under the hood of U.S. tax law to get his hands dirty again. We love to see Chuck Grassley in action. Grassley's Senate finance committee is taking on hunters, the NRA and abuse of charity tax law that is allowing rich hunters to shield millions in income from taxation. It's a scam too weird to be believable and too complex and too politically charged to draw attention from most congressmen. But not Chuck Grassley." Grassley embarks on tax scam safari, Quad-City Times, April 21, 2005
"... Iowans know Chuck Grassley is the real deal. What you see with Grassley is what you get: a man of simple tastes and humble origin, but one with an intense work ethic, keen intellect and a certain complexity. ... In any case, Grassley is doing great things for Iowa, not merely in directing federal resources to the state, but in framing national policies that work to Iowa’s long-term advantage, such as pushing development of renewable energy." Bush agenda rests on Iowa’s Grassley, The Des Moines Register, Jan. 24, 2005
"Grassley, as Finance Committee chairman, is arguably the most powerful member of the Senate. He should use his authority to pressure the Treasury Department into reversing field and changing the rule, or wield his clout in Congress to get the change made. He has the power, and may well be the only one with the common sense necessary to get this done." Grassley's clout the only hope, The Des Moines Register, January 8, 2005
"Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is right when he says the next agriculture secretary needs to focus on international trade." Focus on ag trade, The Des Moines Register, Dec. 3, 2004
"Grassley’s conviction in situations like this is exactly why Iowans have sent him back to Washington election after election. Americans want answers from the FDA, and Grassley can help us get them." Thank Grassley for tough questions of FDA; Congress should examine the agency’s relationship with drug companies, Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, Nov. 29, 2004
"Our answer to Abraham Lincoln won his seat handily through hard work, high ethical standards, and never forgetting who sent him to Washington. He constantly touches base with his constituents, and seldom is prone to tell them only those things they want to hear. Chuck Grassley is a statesman – a man highly respected by friend and foe alike. We need more politicians like that from all political parties." Ken’s Bark, Doon Press, Nov. 11, 2004
"Sen. Charles Grassley has earned the respect of his fellow senators and worked his way up to leadership positions on several important Senate committees. Iowa needs his experience and his proven leadership abilities in the Senate." And the choices are ..., Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil, Oct. 31, 2004
"If Iowans were to make a list of attributes they desire in their federal legislators, it would probably look like a description of Sen. Chuck Grassley. Leadership. Integrity. Experience. Grassley embodies these traits." Return Grassley for a 5th U.S. Senate term, Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, Oct. 27, 2004
"Though we disagree on some issues, Grassley’s commitment and accomplishments are impressive. He is a rock-solid Iowan of integrity, extraordinarily knowledgeable about policy, and in a position to do many more good things for this state." Chuck Grassley, Iowa’s champion, The Des Moines Register, Oct. 24, 2004
"Grassley is a tough and principled legislator." Sen. Chuck Grassley: Man of the year?, The Hill, Tuesday, February 10, 2004
"Of humble farming roots, Senator Chuck Grassley worked his way up through the political spectrum, eventually landing a position in the U.S. Senate. Grassley’s achievements show that such a position lies within the reach of any student outfitted with lofty aspirations; all it takes is solid commitment. Clearly, the government is not run solely by lawyers or Kennedys. In fact, a few good Iowans may be all it needs." Grassley advises prospective politicians by Margaret Poe, Cedar Falls Hometowner, February 4, 2004
"Iowa physicians discovered that persistence and patience pay off, especially when Iowa Senator Charles Grassley is on your side." Senator Grassley Brings It Home For Iowa Physicians And Their Patients!, Iowa Medicine, January/February 2004
"The finance-panel chairman is not shy when it comes to oversight...Grassley doesn't mince words with the private sector either." Grassley has aggressive agenda and reaches into every '04 issue by Bob Cusack, The Hill, Tuesday, January 27, 2004
"Grassley leading charge against accounting firm's tax cheating ploys." Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, January 9, 2004
"Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, a bulldog defender of Midwestern farmers..."." Reuters, December 30, 2003
"The nation's capital is a place where political cliches are periodically reinvented. So perhaps it's not a surprise that a straight-talking, tightfisted, onetime pig farmer from north-central Iowa has become one of the most powerful men in Congress. With Chuck Grassley, an independent-minded Iowa Republican, there is no swagger, no glitz, no hype. There are no cowboy boots, no power ties. And yet Grassley, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is the man to see...He has also become the patron saint of whistle-blowers from all over the government...Grassley's aw-shucks manner and reputation as a straight shooter have also allowed him to pursue a famous streak of independence - even from the White House...Grassley also succeeds because he never forgets who he works for." The Hawkeye on the Hill by Terence Samuel, U.S. News and World Report, Monday, June 23, 2003
"Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, all Midwestern modesty and manners..." Congressional Memo; Fate of Tax Credits Rests with Houses Divided, The New York Times, June 16, 2003
"Grassley deserves credit for fashioning a compromise in a political snake pit. He quickly endorsed a correction once the issue came up, and he worked hard to make it happen. There are few other heroes in this story." The Des Moines Register, June 7, 2003
"If Mr. Grassley has his way, the interests of rural America will loom large in the push to enact a medicare law." Reshaping Medicare, Rural Roots in Mind, The New York Times, Monday, June 2, 2003
"The Big Man in Congress: Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley was the Republican perhaps most responsible for passage of the labeling legislation. He figured that if Americans knew where their meat and veggies were coming from, they might prefer to buy American, giving U.S. producers an advantage." Omaha World Herald, Monday, June 1, 2003
"A rose to Senator Chuck Grassley for pushing for action on the deaths of 11 Mexican immigrants found last fall in a train car in Iowa...Grassley wants justice served to the immigrant smugglers - and the lives of migrants protected." The Des Moines Register, May 25, 2003
"Chuck Grassley called it right. The Senator told us back in February he expected he could deliver about half of the $726 billion tax cut President Bush proposed. Grassley's frank assessment offended some republicans at the time. He said it was simple reality. Then politicians went out and postured for a few months...And then Congress did exactly what Grassley said it would. It faced reality and agreed to a $330 billion tax cut. The president called it a victory. Democrats called it a loss. Grassley reminded everyone about reality. Most provisions of the tax cut are scheduled to sunset late this decade, and Congress undoubtedly will debate the extension or expiration then. Maybe they'll listen to Chuck next time." The Gazette's Editorial, Saluting Chuck, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Saturday, May 24, 2003
"Few politicians put as much stock in keeping their word as does Mr. Grassley." The New York Times, May 22, 2003
"The key to Grassley's success, senators and aides said, was his word." Knight Ridder, May 21, 2003
"(But) Grassley deserves praise for his dedication to doing what Iowans have asked him to do: work toward fairness for Iowa in Medicare reimbursement." The Des Moines Register, May 17, 2003
"Its (the tax cuts) final shape remains dependent on the handiwork of Mr. Grassley, a self-described hayseed who brings populist rather than pro-business instincts to the challenge of balancing the Senate's competing political forces...Once dismissed as a Republican 'robot' beholden to the Reagan Revolution, Mr. Grassley has clung tightly to his identity as 'just a farmer from Butler County' - even as his party has moved steadily to the right. After working in a union factory job and serving in the state legislature and the U.S. House, he rode into the Senate with other long-shot Republicans amid Mr. Reagan'