Photo of Iowa

Grassley News

MODERATOR: The following is an unrehearsed interview with Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley speaking ... Read More >>

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley today announced that Iowa State University has received ... Read More >>

Grassley Blog

   Congratulations are in order for a couple Iowa youth music groups. The Colts Drum... Read More >>

Here’s what editors and pundits say about Senator Grassley ---


"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


"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


"(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


"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


"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's 1980 landslide. Two decades later...he still lopes rather than walks, carries a worn canvas tote bag, and starts his sentences with folksy Midwestern idioms such as, "Say,..." and "Why,..." Grassley Holds Line on Tax Cut, The Wall Street Journal, Thursday, May 15, 2003


"The gate of the 2003 tax cut turns Monday on the decision of a plain-spoken Iowa farmer who is respectfully indifferent to upsetting a popular president or his Republican brethren." Ready to Go Against the Grain, Cedar Rapids Gazette, May 4, 2003


"In the final analysis, however, it might be easier for Bush to put his name on Grassley’s proposal and declare victory. Grassley has been in Congress since 1974. We can’t recall that he’s ever been rolled by a President." Brassy Grassley – Senate finance chief holds ground in budget fight by Jim McTague, Barron’s, April 21, 2003


"Mr. Grassley is an honest man." Farce, Tragedy and Taxes, The Washington Post, Monday, April 14, 2003


"The turning point - one of the rare occasions when the outcome of important legislation turned on a single speech - came when Senator Charles E. Grassley, the Iowa Republican who is chairman of the Finance Committee and a politician with a reputation for keeping his word, promised on the Senate floor that he would not permit, under any circumstances, a law this year that would reduce taxes by more than $350 billion over 10 years. That pledge won the votes of two recalcitrant Republicans who had promised in writing to oppose any tax cut of more than $350 billion. The switch produced the 50-to-50 tie, allowing Mr. Cheney to break it." Senate Vote Could Sharply Reduce Bush Tax Cut, The New York Times, Saturday, April 12, 2003


"Iowans will be pleased to know that U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley has led a lonesome campaign for close to a decade to change this, not just for the U.S. Supreme Court but for the entire federal judiciary, with legislation that would authorize federal judges to permit cameras in courtrooms." Court TV - Make it Happen, The Des Moines Register Editorial, Monday, April 7, 2003


"Charles Grassley. The conservative populist from Iowa proved that it can be hip to be square. He condemned corporate excesses, stood up for whistleblowers, and was an outspoken voice for reform in the business sector. Now he's in line to become chairman of the powerful tax-writing Senate Finance Committee. If he sounds like a modern-day Teddy Roosevelt, well, in a way that's what he is. Like Teddy, he wants corporations to play fair. But like TR, he also wants them to make a fair profit." The Winners and Wipeouts of 2002, Business Week Online, Richard S. Dunham, December 23, 2002


"Sen. Charles Grassley has made a name for himself by fighting for the little guy and reminding the federal government it is accountable to the American people...God, country and his fellow Iowans always come first for Grassley...the man many call both the conscience of the U.S. Senate and the federal governments's most tenacious watchdog." Iowa’s Main Street Republican by Martin Edwin Andersen, Insight magazine, November 12-25, 2002


"In his 44 years as a lawmaker at the state and federal levels, Grassley has always been a common-sense, no-nonsense kind of guy in the best conservative tradition. he's now in the right place at the right time to do great service to the nation by helping steer it toward realistic decisions." The Des Moines Register, November 10, 2002


"Grassley, 69, is a farmer with a homespun manner, strong will and keen grasp of issues he cares about. Some of his more urbane colleagues once dismissed him as a bit of a rube, but they quickly learned better. He is a skilled legislative craftsman and knowledgeable on the complicated issues that come before the Finance Committee." The Senate's Committee Shakeups, The Washington Post, November 7, 2002


"Back in the nation's capital, he's a man to be reckoned with. White House aides, Cabinet officers, corporate chieftains, superlobbyists, would-be federal judges and ambassadors defer to him. Fellow Republican lawmakers court him, staffers vie for his attention, and journalists seek him out. But here, on the flat, fertile landscape of America's heartland where lush green fields stretch from horizon to horizon, Sen. Chuck Grassley is just another farmer." Hill Profile - Sen. Chuck Grassley, The Hill, September 11, 2002


"Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley can add another feather to his cap. Stanley Works, the tool company, backed off plans to reincorporate in Bermuda after strong criticism from Grassley and others." No place like Home, The Des Moines Register, August 6, 2002


"Let me say one word about Chuck Grassley. I've been in Washington for 33 years, and I don't think I have ever underestimated a politician as much as I underestimated Chuck Grassley. Bob Novak and I went to dinner with him about 20 years ago, both of our wives thought we misbehaved badly. I don't think either one of us thought he was good -- you know, a terribly impressive new senator. And boy, were we wrong, or I was wrong. Because he was -- he is one of the most dogged, honest members of the Senate. I disagree with him a lot, but he's a heck of a public servant. ... There are many champions, but Chuck Grassley is a persistent champion of people." Al Hunt of The Capital Gang on CNN, Grassley is newsmaker of the week as the leading advocate of protecting whistle blowers, June 8, 2002


"Grassley and Baucus were unlikely candidates to be go-to players on legislation as prominent and controversial as the tax cut. Grassley, a 67-year-old hog farmer and former mechanic, had fashioned a maverick reputation in the Senate over 20 years - a conservative, to be sure, but not doctrinaire...His slow-talking, down-home demeanor conveys guilelessness, but several colleagues said his handling of the tax issue demonstrated a shrewd appreciation of the legislative process." Senators' Delicate Maneuvering Led to Tax Cut, Washington Post, Sunday, May 27, 2001


"Grassley isn't a stranger to being in a minority of one, and he holds to his conservative convictions, believing in the importance of thrift and honesty." Protecting Tax-Cut Plan Will Be Trying Task For Grassley, Insight, April 16, 2001


"Grassley looks and talks like a farmer, which causes some to underestimate hi first-class instincts and intellect...For years, the 67-year old Grassley, now in his fourth term, has been the most popular Iowa politician in either party." The Dynamic Duo, Smart Money Magazine, April 2001


"Although he's now one of the most powerful U.S. Senators, Chuck Grassley is still a good ol' Iowa boy." In the Spotlight, Des Moines Business Record, March 5, 2001


"Could it get any better than having a farmer in charge of the tax committee working for a President dedicated to tax relief?" A Farmer on Finance, Top Producer, February 2001


"Iowa's senior senator always has evoked an image of the down-to-earth, hard-working, straight-talking farmer/legislator who has not forgotten where he came from and is unfazed by the slick nature of Washington, D.C. And when it comes to his new position [on the Senate Finance Committee], he has the same attitude." Grassley assumes key chairmanship, Quad-City Times, Jan. 22, 2001


"Well-heeled K Street lobbyists beware: The new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee is not a flashy, back-slapping pol who cuts deals at fancy restaurants. A plain-spoken Midwesterner who grew up on a farm, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) walks the halls of power with a determined look on his face, his black leather bag always in one hand - ready to work, work, work." All Work, No Play For Finance Chair, Roll Call, Monday, January 15, 2001


"With his aw-shucks country accent, it's easy to mistake Sen. Charles Grassley as a bit of hayseed. After all he does flee Washington most weekends for his family farm near New Hartford, Iowa, to fix fences, cut brush, harvest crops and bale hay. He speaks plainly. He wears cowboy boots, albeit shiny black ones. And the words 'earnest' and 'dogged' are often used to describe his character. But there's a new adjective attached to Grassley's job description - 'powerful'... Grassley, 67, is expected to become the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, one of the most influential posts in Washington." Grassley's Influence Set to Soar, The Omaha World-Herald, Saturday, January 13, 2001


"Some in Congress may have a smoother delivery than Charles E. Grassley, and some may make more sophisticated arguments, but few can match his tenacity. Contrary to the aw-shucks image he projects, Grassley can be a bulldog. Once he sinks his teeth into an issue whether it be stemming procurement waste at the Pentagon, improving medical care for disabled children or protecting farmers in any number of ways - he will not let go. " CQ Power Players 2001, Congressional Quarterly, December 30, 2000


"When the new Congress convenes next month, Senator Grassley, a Republican, will be chairman of the Finance Committee...Grassley, 67, will move from relative anonymity to a position with a dominant voice on most of the top items on President-elect George W. Bush's agenda. Mr. Grassley does not look, talk or act like the archetypal senator. He is tall and thin with a crooked smile and an awkward gait. He wears off-the-rack suits, and his voice has a country twang. He is proud of his background as a farmer, and spends his weekends and Congressional recesses on the corn and soybean farm he owns with his son Robin in New Hartford, west of Waterloo, the city where he was born. Mr. Grassley...rarely delivers extended monologues in the Senate the way most of his colleagues do. He is not a Republican firebrand, but he makes no secret of his partisan views." Critical Player on Bush Agenda Is an Unknown Quantity, New York Times, Monday, December 25, 2000


"Grounded is one apt description for this onetime farmer and union machinist who still plants and harvest the 710 acres of corn and soybeans he works with his son. The new chairman who keeps in touch with Iowa constituents by holding a meeting every year in each of the state's 99 counties, knows some from outside his state describe his style as plodding, or stubborn...Plodding or not, Mr. Grassley's farm background and shy awkwardness may make him seem out of place in the high-powered 'Gucci Gulch' world of the Finance Committee... But the 67-year-old conservative's durability and independence could make him one of the biggest forces in the new Congress." New Senate Finance Committee Chief Must Navigate Tax Cuts, Partisan Politics, The Wall Street Journal, Friday, December 22, 2000


"Grassley is well liked and respected on both sides of the aisle. His style is to spend a great deal of time talking individually to Senators and listening to what they have to say. He can often be found buttonholing colleagues on the Senate floor between votes. " Grassley vs. drugmakers, The Des Moines Register, March 15, 2000


"Senator Charles Grassley did his Iowa constituents and the rest of the country a huge favor...probably saving Iowans at least $100 million." Grassley vs. drugmakers, The Des Moines Register, March 15, 2000


"Everyone who drives a vehicle knows the score at the pump. Gasoline and diesel fuel prices are up 70 percent compared to a year ago...there are a lot of ideas floating about how to address the situation. Sen. Charles Grassley may have come up with some of the best ideas." Taking on OPEC with an aggressive stance, Hampton Chronicle, Feb. 24, 2000.


"The public owes a debt of gratitude to Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa. Their initiative was not especially well received by opponents of reform. But an indefensible and odious practice (secret 'holds') finally gave way to the public interest." The Washington Post, March 10, 1999


"His influence in the Senate serves his constituents well. He is a hard worker. He is respected for his integrity, with staunch moral values that are rooted in his home state." Omaha World-Herald, Oct. 31, 1998


"The law, championed by Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, is a proven weapon in the fight against fraud and it's rapidly becoming the most effective tool there is in protecting the integrity of the health care system." The Quad-City Times, July 21, 1998


"Grassley does this at least once a year - visiting every county in Iowa...Like clockwork over the years he has gone out of his way to make sure he sees people in each county - in their home communities - each year.... [T]his is an easy litmus test of how well a politician is willing to keep his word." Mount Ayr Record-News, June 1998


"Grassley assails IRS, thankfully" Dyersville Commercial, June 3, 1998



"Grassley is a much more senior member of the Senate...in the majority and in a position to make recalcitrant bureaucrats uncomfortable pretty quickly... ." Senator Grassley vs. The FBI by Jane Norman, The Des Moines Register, March 2, 1997


"He is consistent, he is courageous, he is tenacious. It's a good thing for the country that Grassley still exhibits those characteristics, particularly when it comes to keeping an eye on the Pentagon." Cedar Rapids Gazette, Nov. 18, 1996



"Sen. Charles Grassley...is not afraid to ruffle feathers - even when those feathers belong to members of his own Republican Party or such Washington establishments as the military." Ottumwa Courier, Jan. 2, 1996