(LeMars) — Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley spoke with KLEM news about jobs, trade, the Obama administration, and even the presidential candidates during an individual news conference held Thursday morning.
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed three separate Free Trade Agreements last evening with Columbia, Panama, and South Korea. Grassley voted in support of all three trade bills and said it was about time that Congress was able to act upon the trade agreements. He told KLEM news that the trade agreements should have been passed at least two years ago, but he blames President Obama for “moving the goal posts” and not allowing Congress to pass the bills. Grassley says the three Free Trade Agreements will mean more jobs for Americans.
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The Republican Senator says agriculture and especially, Iowa agriculture should benefit from the passage of the trade bills.
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Grassley says there are plenty of critics that are against free trade agreements because of what they perceive as unfair trading practices, but he says it is the United States that have been treated poorly in past trade deals.
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Senator Grassley has some advice for Republican Presidential candidates.
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Grassley also spoke about the Obama administration and the “stone walling” that is occuring with the U-S Justice Department, and specifically with Attorney General Eric Holder with regard to the “Fast and Furious” immigrtation deal in which arms showed up in the hands of Mexican drug cartels. Grassley told KLEM news when Obama was inaugerated, he promised to provide the most transparent administration in history. However, Grassley says quite the opposite has occured. Grassley says when the administration ignores Congress’ request for information, it forces the Senate then to issue warrants and subpeonas to acquire the information. The Iowa Senator says the administration responds with only partial information. Grassley admitted to being frustrated with the administration’s lack of cooperative spirit. He says the situation reminds him of the Watergate era when Tennessee Senator Howard Baker asked the famous question of “what did the President know…and when did he know it?”. Grassley says he wants to ask Attorney General Holder the same question regarding “Fast and Furious.”
