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Grassley holds Tama County town meeting

Senator Chuck Grassley addresses a room of more than 50 local residents during his stop in Tama County on Monday, August 25.

For more than an hour, Tuesday morning, Aug. 25, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) heard constituent concerns and provided some answers during his annual Tama County stop in what is billed as his “every county – every year” visits.

An overflow crowd of more than 50 in a small conference room in the Tama County Administration Building dictated a move to the nearby Tama County Museum.

A sampling of the question and answer session:

Grassley heard Steve Eggelston, a US. Housing and Urban Development representative, call for more federal aid for housing development in rural communities.

“Tama County Economic Development has been very successful in creating a large number of jobs, Cisco spent $35 million and has hired a large number of people here (Iowa Premium)… when you create 300, 400, 500 jobs the housing has not met the needs and this is happening in all small towns across the state,” Eggelston, told Grassley.

He urged more federal involvement outside of executive branch efforts in the area.

“We’re literally being regulated to death,” John Kavalier, president of The State Bank of Toledo said. He blamed “Wall Street banks” for bringing about the heavier workload in the 2008 financial crisis. He urged Grassley to aid in easing the regulations con small banks.

“The house could pass a bill on some of the requirements on smaller banks , but I’ll bet we never could get it up in the Senate with Senator Warren …,” Grassley said. He said he recognized the cost to small banks of the regulations.

Roger Hill, Tama, questioned the GOP support of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) as Senate majority leader.

“In the middle of November, McConnell was the only one nominated,” Grassley replied. “I think nobody ran against him is he had enough commitments ahead of tiem time to get that.”

Speaking on behalf of Rex Hoskey, Toledo, who was present and is suffering from ALS, a spokesperson asked why there are obstacles for persons to try new medications.

Grassley said he generally supports the right of persons seeking alternative treatments to do so, “particularly where there is a life-threatening condition. He said he also recognized the Federal Drug Administration’s position the new methods must be “safe and effective.”

Allen Waseskuk, who identified himself as an enrolled member of the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, charged he had been derailed n his bid to rent Tribal land for farming and alleged his family had suffered consequences from this action. He also said he believes Meskwaki women are denied equal rights as Tribal members and as a taxpayer he is supporting two police forces, both Meskwaki Nation Tribal Police and other local law enforcement and duplicate courts.

John Weber, Dysart, questioned legislation on country or origin labeling on food products. He said Iowa is facing “a very difficult situation as the the number one pork producing state in the nation.”

He said “We are being retaliated against by Canada and Mexico” and warned this can “have severe consequences fro Iowa pork producers.”

Grassley said his position is now to vote to repeal. He said “We are now doing what Canada is doing now- voluntary labeling.”

“I did it under the basis you ought to know where your food is coming from you should know your T-shirts are made in Taiwan.”

A second concern about new water regulations was also brought up by Weber. He questioned what farmers will do this fall who plan a waterway project.

Grassley said a law has been passed to reduce the regulations in place but it is unknown if President Obama will sign it. He said federal regulations have traditionally covered “navigable rivers.” Others were under state jurisdiction.

He said, “This is a very sweeping regulation, based upon a couple of Supreme Court decisions over the past 15 years…99 percent of land in Iowa is covered by this rule.”

He said county supervisors had been to his office in May concerned “even road ditches” would be covered by the regulations.

Grassley holds Tama County town meeting

Senator Chuck Grassley addresses a room of more than 50 local residents during his stop in Tama County on Monday, August 25.

For more than an hour, Tuesday morning, Aug. 25, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) heard constituent concerns and provided some answers during his annual Tama County stop in what is billed as his “every county – every year” visits.

An overflow crowd of more than 50 in a small conference room in the Tama County Administration Building dictated a move to the nearby Tama County Museum.

A sampling of the question and answer session:

Grassley heard Steve Eggelston, a US. Housing and Urban Development representative, call for more federal aid for housing development in rural communities.

“Tama County Economic Development has been very successful in creating a large number of jobs, Cisco spent $35 million and has hired a large number of people here (Iowa Premium)… when you create 300, 400, 500 jobs the housing has not met the needs and this is happening in all small towns across the state,” Eggelston, told Grassley.

He urged more federal involvement outside of executive branch efforts in the area.

“We’re literally being regulated to death,” John Kavalier, president of The State Bank of Toledo said. He blamed “Wall Street banks” for bringing about the heavier workload in the 2008 financial crisis. He urged Grassley to aid in easing the regulations con small banks.

“The house could pass a bill on some of the requirements on smaller banks , but I’ll bet we never could get it up in the Senate with Senator Warren …,” Grassley said. He said he recognized the cost to small banks of the regulations.

Roger Hill, Tama, questioned the GOP support of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) as Senate majority leader.

“In the middle of November, McConnell was the only one nominated,” Grassley replied. “I think nobody ran against him is he had enough commitments ahead of tiem time to get that.”

Speaking on behalf of Rex Hoskey, Toledo, who was present and is suffering from ALS, a spokesperson asked why there are obstacles for persons to try new medications.

Grassley said he generally supports the right of persons seeking alternative treatments to do so, “particularly where there is a life-threatening condition. He said he also recognized the Federal Drug Administration’s position the new methods must be “safe and effective.”

Allen Waseskuk, who identified himself as an enrolled member of the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, charged he had been derailed n his bid to rent Tribal land for farming and alleged his family had suffered consequences from this action. He also said he believes Meskwaki women are denied equal rights as Tribal members and as a taxpayer he is supporting two police forces, both Meskwaki Nation Tribal Police and other local law enforcement and duplicate courts.

John Weber, Dysart, questioned legislation on country or origin labeling on food products. He said Iowa is facing “a very difficult situation as the the number one pork producing state in the nation.”

He said “We are being retaliated against by Canada and Mexico” and warned this can “have severe consequences fro Iowa pork producers.”

Grassley said his position is now to vote to repeal. He said “We are now doing what Canada is doing now- voluntary labeling.”

“I did it under the basis you ought to know where your food is coming from you should know your T-shirts are made in Taiwan.”

A second concern about new water regulations was also brought up by Weber. He questioned what farmers will do this fall who plan a waterway project.

Grassley said a law has been passed to reduce the regulations in place but it is unknown if President Obama will sign it. He said federal regulations have traditionally covered “navigable rivers.” Others were under state jurisdiction.

He said, “This is a very sweeping regulation, based upon a couple of Supreme Court decisions over the past 15 years…99 percent of land in Iowa is covered by this rule.”

He said county supervisors had been to his office in May concerned “even road ditches” would be covered by the regulations.