Senator Grassley hosts small crowd for Q&A session during Waukon visit

by Joe Moses

U.S. Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa made a stop in Waukon Thursday, June 29, holding a Q&A (Question and Answer) session at Lid’s Bar & Grill with local elected officials, the media and members of the public as part of his 43rd annual 99-County Tour.

Grassley provided an introduction discussing the Q&A format while encouraging questions and feedback from those in attendance. Allamakee County Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes updated Grassley about Veterans Memorial Hospital’s (VMH) role as a critical access hospital serving the entire county. Byrnes discussed a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) managed care program which he noted would be beneficial to VMH through increased funding and reimbursements. He noted that, if approved, the program would provide additional supplemental funds including $1 billion for the State of Iowa with $2.5 million allocated for VMH specifically. Byrnes advised that VMH’s payer mix includes 52-percent from Medicare and 11-percent from Medicaid. Grassley noted that he would be following up on the status of this program and funding.

Several students from the Little Switzerland FFA Chapter at Waukon High School discussed with Grassley the importance of FFA and agriculture. Grassley also commented on education and a shortage of teachers and instructors focusing on FFA and agriculture.

Allamakee County Supervisor Dennis Keatley discussed last year’s closure of the Alliant Energy Power Plant near Lansing and trends taking place in the U.S. relating to coal-fired power plants. Keatley noted a decrease in the number of these power plants in the U.S. with China continuing to open additional coal-fired power plants. Keatley asked for Grassley’s thoughts on the electrical grid and the state of energy generation in this country.

Grassley noted that he does support alternative energy, although there are concerns relating to government decisions and their impact 10-15 years down the road on the reliability of the energy grid. Grassley noted that conversations on this topic continue with his colleagues in the Senate. He further noted current concerns relating to brown-outs in California and recent 110-degree temperatures in Texas forcing energy conservation measures with Keatley noting clashing decisions between the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relating to power generation.

Executive Director Val Reinke of Allamakee County Economic Development (ACED) and Grassley discussed the Inflation Reduction Act, federal legislation to curb inflation through investing in domestic energy, the promotion of clean energy, among other efforts. Grassley discussed the importance of keeping Social Security sustainable for future generations, keeping college tuition affordable, keeping agriculture strong, in addition to the continued diversification of the U.S. economy.

Grassley also discussed work being done in developing the 2023 Farm Bill, a process or update that takes place every five years and provides help or a safety net for farmers relating to price drops and matters beyond their control with provisions in place to help beginning farmers, farmers markets, organic farming, among other farming needs.

Keatley questioned Grassley about the role of the U.S. and the United Nations (UN) relating to pandemics and sovereignty. Grassley advised that the role of the U.N. and the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to be important in providing recommendations, with the U.S. able to evaluate those recommendations and make its own decisions.

Grassley also responded to a question relating to Proposition 12, legislation in California dictating how Iowa and other states raise livestock in order to gain market access to California. Grassley discussed the Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, a bill to prohibit state and local governments from interfering with the production of agricultural products in other states.

In response to a question, Grassley noted that the current unemployment rate in Iowa is three-to-four percent, which is comparable to the national average. He also discussed ongoing work to encourage and incentivize participation in the workforce.

Grassley also discussed efforts including the Cantwell/Grassley Bill to combat skyrocketing drug prices. He noted ongoing work to increase transparency in medication pricing, practices of pharmaceutical companies, and the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) in setting drug prices.

Mike Vance, a reliability coordinator with Midwest ISO, discussed concerns relating to the exclusive use of renewable energy sources. Vance recommended a combination of fossil fuels, nuclear power in addition to renewable energy. Grassley noted that a balance between alternative energy and fossil fuels is advisable in maintaining a reliable power grid.

Grassley also discussed Sunshine Laws, legislation in place to hold the government accountable for the use of tax dollars and to prevent waste.

Following the public portion of the Q&A session, Grassley shared with The Standard that one of his take-aways from the afternoon’s meeting is that there are concerns relating to the current administration’s push to green energy with impacts to the energy grid and brown-outs seen as issues. Grassley noted that this is his 43rd annual 99-County Tour with many highlights over the years visiting each county in Iowa. In conclusion, Grassley noted in his 99-County Tour’s history, there was only one meeting where no one showed up, with that being a stop in Monona County in western Iowa, which took place during his first term in office.