Grassley said his interactive program gives Iowans the opportunity each month to express opinions and ask questions of him on any subject by calling 515/266-2979. The next edition of "Ask Your Senator: A Live Town Meeting" will air this week on January 15, from 7:00-7:30 p.m. (CST). The program is broadcast regularly on the third Thursday of each month on cable outlets across Iowa.
In the Senate, Grassley is the second most senior member of the Budget Committee and has long fought for fiscal responsibility from Congress and the President. In 1997, Grassley helped develop what became the bi-partisan plan to balance the budget for the first time in 30 years. "It took tough decisions and discipline on the part of Congress to exert this kind of positive influence for taxpayers and bring an end to Washington spending that was out-of-control for decades," Grassley said.
Last week the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the federal deficit for fiscal year 1998 will be just $5 billion out of a $1.7 trillion budget. According to CBO, the deficit in fiscal year 1999 will be $2 billion and in fiscal year 2000 it will stay at just $3 billion.
Grassley applauded this good news but cautioned policy makers in Washington to stay the course. "We're on the brink of a massive demographic shift when the baby boomer generation starts to retire in 2010," he said. "This will put tremendous financial burdens on federal entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security. Congress and the President need to take responsible action now to ensure these programs are available to the tens of millions of Americans who will rely on them in the near future."
As chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Grassley has urged policy makers during the last year to seek out creative solutions to ensure Social Security's long-term solvency. "I've conducted formal hearings and informal forums on Social Security. I've held field hearings in Iowa and given speeches in Washington to get people focused on the challenges facing Social Security," he said. In addition, Grassley said he looks forward to the next hearing of a special task force on which he serves as a member of the Budget Committee, which will consider creative solutions employed by social security systems around the world.
In 1996, 342,480 Iowans received retirement benefits from Social Security. And last year, 37.8 million people nationwide received Social Security retirement benefits.
Grassley encouraged all Iowans to ask about these issues or to express other concerns next Thursday evening. "I look forward to discussing these or any other policy issues during my program. It is important for me to hear what is on the minds of Iowans. I invite everyone with access to the program to take this opportunity to play an active role in the process of representative government and call in to the program," he said.
Communities in which "Ask Your Senator: A Live Town Meeting" will air are listed at this link.