Grassley makes stop in Mt. Pleasant to speak to local Republicans

BY BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

Henry County Republicans let their voices be heard Thursday evening with a panel of guest speakers at their 34th annual Hog Roast and fundraiser who all touched many of the same topics including reigning in big government, focusing more attention on the U.S. Supreme Court, and of course, stopping Hillary Clinton.

Headlining Thursday?s event was longtime U.S. Republican Senator, Chuck Grassley. The senator made a stop at the Mt. Pleasant Golf and Country Club to give the keynote address on Thursday evening as he was making his annual tour of all 99 counties in Iowa. Touting his commitment to having regular ?open dialogue? with Iowans and keeping his Senate attendance and voting record strong, Grassley also focused much of his address on Republicans winning the White House and refocusing on the Supreme Court and the U.S. Constitution.

?We need a new president that is going to make sure that the Constitution is followed. And we need someone who knows you can?t take the attitude that you are King George III, and can overrule the people and do whatever you want because that?s what the Revolutionary War was all about,? he said. ??I hope this presidential election between Trump and Hillary Clinton gets back to the point of our Constitution??

When asked how he has worked to bring the country?s government and the presidential election back to refocusing on the people and the Constitution, Grassley spoke about his work in fighting for whistleblowers and a recent legislation regarding whistleblowers. In June, members of the bipartisan Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, of which Grassley is a chairman of, passed a resolution to designate July 30, 2016, as Whistleblower Appreciation Day.

?When people ask me why I have helped pass this resolution, it?s because when people come to Congress and they have an issue with government and have a good cause, it?s our responsibility to make sure that what they have found to be wrong in government is corrected and that they are protected,? Grassley said.

As for talks surrounding the U.S. Supreme Court, Grassley didn?t name any of his recommendations for filling the Court. He did, however, comment on how he believes the Court should be nominated and chosen, while also calling out President Obama for what Grassley said he believes to be lack of adherence to the Constitution by the President.

?I think we should let the next president fill that vacancy (in the U.S. Supreme Court). But I am also calling for a debate between Trump and Hillary on the role of the courts in our constitutional system so we reinvigorate people?s interest in the Supreme Court,? Grassley said to much approval from the crowd. ?Our President doesn?t understand the role of the Supreme Court and wants the wrong things from the Supreme Court.?

And despite his current race to seek a seventh term in office against strong competitor, former Democratic lieutenant Patty Judge, Grassley opted not to talk too much about his opponent on Thursday. In fact, instead of calling for people?s monetary support of his Senate campaign, he called for people?s vote and their voice.

?I am not just running against Patty Judge, I am up against the super PACS and everything they can do,? Grassley commented. ?The best thing people can do is not necessarily to open their pocketbooks, but open their mouth. Tell people why you think I ought be re-elected so we can get things done.?

Besides Grassley, local Republicans also heard from the likes of Steve Scheffler, delegate to the Republican National Committee; Republican candidate for the Senate District 42 seat, Danny Graber; and Republican House Representative, Dave Heaton.