Virtual Town Hall Meeting

Yesterday afternoon I participated in a virtual town hall meeting with students from Prairie City Monroe High School. Visiting with students and hearing what is important to young Iowans has always been a priority of mine. That's why during my annual visits to Iowa's 99 counties, I usually visit several schools and students groups. Using this teleconference technology will allow me to hear from many more students and several other schools.  And it is almost as good as being in the classroom, and I don't have to worry about being snowed out!

10:57 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

State of the Union

I'm getting ready to head to the House Chamber for President Bush's final State of the Union. The State of the Union is an annual assessment of our country that provides the President with the opportunity to lay the groundwork for the Administration's goals in the coming year.  I expect the president will touch on a broad range of issues, including several topics of interest to Iowans.  I hope to hear a forward looking agenda that focuses on the economy, the War on Terror and energy security. Be sure to check my website after the speech to get my reaction.

4:44 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Grassley Q & A: College Tuition

Q:  It seems there's no end in sight when it comes to rising college costs.  What can be done?

A:  The fact is, college tuition is growing at a rate faster than inflation and it continues to rise.  If the price of milk had climbed at the pace of college tuition since 1980, a gallon of milk would cost $15 today.  Parents and students are struggling to pay for college, and more and more students face higher debt loads after graduation.  Taxpayer-subsidized student aid is hard-pressed to keep pace and can even have the negative effect of helping to increase college costs.  In recent years, I've worked to enact tax relief policies to help individuals and their families with higher education expenses, including creating the tax deduction for tuition and making the tax deductibility of interest on student loans a permanent part of the tax code.  As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance in 2001, I also worked to establish federal tax advantages for the college savings plans known as 529 plans.  I was able to secure permanent status for these tax policies in 2006 and help expand confidence and participation in this great college savings tool for families. Iowa's 529 program, College Savings Iowa, is one of the nation's best with more than $2 billion invested.  For more information on College Savings Iowa, visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com.

Q:  What's all the talk about college endowments?

A:  More needs to be done to make college affordable, and something's not right when tuition heads sky high alongside college endowment funds.  In fact, billion-dollar tax-free endowments should help mean affordable education for more students rather than only a security blanket for colleges.  Tax-exempt status means there's a public benefit, so it only makes sense that university endowments be used for education.  Universities exist to educate, and endowments provide tremendous opportunities to educate more students.  I started a discussion in Congress last fall about a five-percent payout requirement for endowments, which is the same thing Congress requires for private foundations, and those foundations have had no trouble thriving and growing.  It's nice to see the drumbeat on endowments paying dividends.  Dartmouth, Harvard and Yale have announced their own initiatives for using endowment dollars to help lower tuition for students.  They've set a great example for other endowed colleges and universities, and their leadership can have a ripple effect across the country. I recently wrote directly to the 136 colleges in the United States  with $500 million or more in endowments to find out how they are using large sums of money for student aid. University trustees and board members should look at their endowment policies and see what can be done to increase access to college with lower tuition.  A reform-minded view is especially needed among school leaders where endowments are $500 million and higher.  I look forward to Congress taking up this issue this year.  Making sure that tax-exempt status means a public benefit is being provided is good tax policy.  Putting downward pressure on tuition overall is good education policy.  Educating the next generation is vital to America's long-term economic and national security interests.  For individuals, earning a higher education is a gateway to the American dream.

1:46 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Mitchell Report 2

I'm in Iowa today beginning my annual visits to all of Iowa's 99 counties.  I'm also paying close attention to what happened today in the House oversight committee.  Former Senator George Mitchell, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, and the head of the Players Association Donald Fehr all testified about the Mitchell report on the use of performance enhancing drugs in baseball.  They all seemed committed to implementing the report recommendations. Major league baseball has had a dismal record when it comes to policing its own players during the "steroid era," so it was also good to hear the commissioner say he's getting behind reform legislation, including a bill I introduced last year to limit the sale of the steroid pre-cursor DHEA to kids under 18.  Baseball needs to provide this kind of leadership both for the good of the sport and for the influence it has on the next generation. 

1:06 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Mitchell Report

I'm sure many of you baseball fans out there are just as disappointed as I am to hear about some of our favorite players being revealed in the Mitchell Report today.

The report showed that every team in Major League Baseball had at least one player who was using drugs. It's disappointing to think professional athletes felt they needed to fall back on harmful substances in order to gain an edge. These athletes showed little respect for their bodies and to the integrity of America's favorite pastime. What's worse, they don't appear to realize the detrimental impact they're having on younger athletes. Professional athletes need to realize that whether they like it or not, they are role models. The bottom line is that Major League Baseball needs to shape up or Congress is going to do it for them.

2:20 PM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Iowa Caucus 101

Q: What is the history of the Iowa Caucus?

A: Since 1976, Iowa has been home to the first-in-the-nation Presidential Caucus. Serving as the first caucus state comes with a great responsibility, and Iowans have taken this charge seriously. Candidates seeking their party's presidential nomination understand the political significance of the caucus.  In Iowa, candidates find informed and engaged voters who embrace the grassroots, retail-style politics that are associated with the caucus. Many Iowans actively seek out candidates at campaign events, while others choose to volunteer for one of the campaigns. After several states jockeyed for the coveted first primary and caucus in the nation in the 2008 contest, Iowa maintained its status as mandated by the state constitution and will hold caucuses for both parties on January 3. Traditionally, Iowa has served as a measuring stick for the remainder of the primary season. The one-on-one style of campaigning levels the playing field for long-shot candidates and has the ability to catapult candidates to their party's nomination. The 2008 caucus could prove to be one the most exciting yet, with highly contested races in both parties. As the nation's focus turns to Iowa, Iowa is showcasing a knowledgeable electorate.

Q: What should I expect at this year's caucuses?

A:  Attending an Iowa Caucus is watching democracy in action. Thousands of Iowans gather by political party in public meeting halls, schools, gymnasiums and even private homes to elect delegates for the 99 county conventions. The first order of business is conducting the presidential polling. Generally, caucus-goers are asked to organize by their presidential candidate preference. After assembling by candidate, representatives from each group are allowed to speak on their candidates' behalf, and participants are allowed to switch allegiances during this process. The candidates themselves will be appearing at several caucus precincts to deliver their message in person. Rules governing each party's caucus diverge at this point, so it is important to visit your political party's website or consult with a party official should you have any questions. Following the presidential polling, the party platform is discussed and individual precincts have the opportunity to offer planks or amendments to their state party platforms. The final step in the caucus is electing delegates to the 99 county conventions. Delegates are not bound to vote for their precincts' candidate or planks however that is often times the case. For first-time caucus-goers, the whole process can be as intimidating as it is exciting to be such a pivotal part of the election process. I applaud Iowans' participation and encourage everyone to register to vote and take part in this historical caucus season. For more information on the history of the caucus and to find your caucus precinct, visit IowaCaucus.org.

1:13 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The Rest of ‘07

A lot of people have been asking me what Congress will be working on before we adjourn for the year. We will be in session for two or three more weeks and there is still a lot to accomplish.

One of the most important items left to do is to create a patch for the Alternative Minimum Tax or the AMT, or what I like to call it; the absolutely maddening tax. Congress has never waited this long to pass a legislative patch. It's now December 4, and it is totally unclear what form this legislative fix will take. Tens of millions of working families in Iowa and around the country will be affected by the Alternative Minimum Tax, not only with regard to their tax liability but tax season will be here very soon and people will want a prompt receipt of their IRS refunds.

There also are still 11 appropriations bills not yet done. The kind of omnibus spending bill that is under consideration would likely not have any money for the war on terrorism, even though funds for the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan are expected to run out on February 1.

Negotiations are continuing on farm bill amendments and also on a fix to the Medicare payment system for doctors.

So, you can see there is a lot to do in a little amount of time. So far this year has been unproductive as shown by the many issues that have been put off or dealt with unsuccessfully by Congressional leaders.

2:21 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Thanksgiving

Hello everyone, next week is the time of year that we should reflect on all the things we are thankful for. I hope you are all able to spend the holiday with your family and friends, but if not I hope you still get some turkey.

I have several things I'm thankful for this year. I celebrated my 53^rd year of marriage to my wife Barbara. 20 years ago, Barbara was diagnosed with breast cancer, and today she is a lucky survivor.  She continues to be an outspoken advocate of early detection and screening and I've joined her in this battle. Barbara and I have been blessed with five children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. I am looking forward to hosting another Grassley Thanksgiving this year as family members travel from near and far to join us in New Hartford.  Beyond my family, I am thankful for the trust Iowans place in me to represent our state in the United States Senate.

3:03 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Non-Profit Ministries, Accountability to Donors

I have recently asked six media media-based ministries for information regarding expenses, executive compensation and amenities given to their executives. This has nothing to do with church doctrine. This has everything to do with the tax exemption of an organization. Is that tax exemption being used according to law, and is the money that's donated under the tax exemption being used for legitimate, non-profit purposes?

This is part of a long-standing priority of mine to make sure that tax-exempt organizations are accountable to their donors. Over the years, my investigations have led to some real reform in other non-profit organizations.

Whether it's using a private jet, driving a Rolls Royce or Bentley, or installing a $23,000 commode, there is obviously money going down the toilet. As a Christian myself, and a person who believes in tithing, I feel I have a right to know where my money goes. If a person gets a tax deduction for a donation, the deduction and donation should be for a legitimate purpose.

My job as a member of the tax writing Senate Finance Committee is to make sure the tax code is upheld and to make sure tax breaks for charitable work donations are not abused. Andon-profit board independence is important. Family members shouldn't be approving salaries for family members or themselves.

What I'm from the six ministries is some basic information on how they use their money. I won't draw any conclusions until after they report back to me.
http://grassley.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=15b0ac11-1321-0e36-ba95-dfc2c00db9c2&M..11&Year=2007

11:17 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Farm Bill Clears Committee

We're starting to see the light at the end of the farm bill tunnel. We were able to pass the 2007 farm bill out of committee so it can be debated by the full Senate.

A longstanding priority of mine has passed and was included in the farm bill today. My amendment makes it unlawful for a packer to own or feed livestock intended for slaughter. The Packer Ban excludes single pack entities and packers that are too small to participate in the Mandatory Price Reporting program.  The bill also exempts farmer cooperatives where the members own, feed, or control the livestock themselves.

Outlawing packer ownership of livestock would make sure the forces of the marketplace would work for the benefit of the farmer just as much as it does for the slaughterhouse.  You could even say that packer ownership of livestock frustrates and compromises the marketplace so the farmer doesn't get a fair price.

Earlier this year I had a conversation with the CEO of a major slaughter house and he said to me, "You wonder why we own livestock? Well, we own livestock so that when prices are high we kill our own and when prices are low we buy from the farmer."

Another amendment of mine that was included in the bill clarifies a new potentially burdensome federal regulation that lists propane as a "chemical of interest" requiring costly reporting for farmers and rural homeowners. I first brought this to the attention of Homeland Security officials in June. 

Propane tanks are used by virtually every farm across the country and by many small businesses in rural areas that are not supplied by natural gas. A potential burden of thousands of dollars upon individual farmers and small businesses as a preliminary step to determine whether or not they are 'high risk' and subject to the stringent requirements of the regulations would be an unduly burdensome financial expenditure. 

Today I also brought up the need to help black farmers who were denied entry into the Pigford v. Glickman settlement, which ended a discrimination lawsuit between African American farmers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Now that we've got the bill to the full Senate, I plan to push my amendment to place a hard cap of $250,000 on farm payments.  I'm looking forward to the debate so we can get a farm bill passed and producers can put their own plans in place for their farming operations.

3:09 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment