Grassley to Host Budget Feedback Tour

Grassley to Host Budget Feedback Tour

- The president's budget for the next fiscal year has been released. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have added their two cents worth to the spending debate. Now it's Iowans turn, said U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley today.

Grassley will use next week's President's Day recess to meet with Iowans in four communities to get a clearer picture of where they want their tax dollars spent in the 2001 federal budget.

"In a few weeks, the congressional committees will start hammering out a budget compromise and I want to know what Iowans think we should do with their tax dollars - be it save it, spend it or give it back," said Grassley, who is the second most senior Republican member of the Senate Budget Committee. "Washington needs a budget priority check and some common sense from Iowans is always appreciated."

From February 15 to February 17, Sen. Grassley will attend events in Algona, Spencer, Onawa and Marshalltown. At each event Iowans will have the opportunity to fill out a form called "Priority Check - Where do you want your tax dollars to go?"

"This is the first time since 1969 that the federal government has run a budget surplus. This is a real opportunity to make sure we give our children and grandchildren a chance to achieve the American dream," Grassley said.

Grassley's key assignments on the Senate Agriculture, Finance, Judiciary, and Budget Committees gives him a seat at the table when issues important to Iowans are discussed on Capitol Hill, such as education, Social Security, Medicare, tax relief, farm spending, international trade, transportation, national security, illegal drug use and debt reduction.

Altogether, Grassley will visit 11 Iowa counties next week as part of his annual stop in each of the state's 99 counties.