News : Grassley visits Vinton in support of Candidate Gerhold

Senator Chuck Grassley made a stop today at the Vinton Family Restaurant to support candidate Tom Gerhold who is running for the State Representative position formerly held by State House Representative, Dawn Pettengill, in District 75. There was a group of 30 that met for breakfast and a time of visiting among fellow republicans. Tom Gerhold, says "I grew up on my family's farm near Atkins, learning the calue of a dollar and a hard day's work. As your state representative, I will work to protect your hard-earned money. Iow is a wonderful place to live and that is why I will work as hard as I can for good government that serves the citizens of Benton and Iowa counties." Gerhold describes Benton County as, "Iowa nice." He said, "even of the ones that disagree with me politically, they were also nice." Senator Chuck Grassley spoke of Trump's successful policies that have resulted in low unemployment and economic growth. He said of Trump, "People shouldn't be surprised, that he's doing what he said he'd do." He addressed the necessity of the republicans to hold the office of president, house of representatives for these policies to continue. Governor Kim Reynolds: Grassley also spoke of Governor Kim Reynolds slogan, Keep Iowa Moving, and how that under a democrat governor, the state was 900 million in the hole and trust funds were busted, but that with Branstad's leadership and republicans in Des Moines, we now have a 127 million dollar surplus. He also He explained that in Iowa we have a "99% rule" that we can't spend more than 99% of what is coming in, and wished that we had that rule in Washington D.C. Grassley encouraged the group to vote to preserve what Reynolds has done as governor. He also said of Reynolds that she cares. He cited the fact that she's traveled through the 99 counties, and said of her, "if you don't care you wouldn't do that. She's worked her way up from being a grocer and mom to where she is, appreciate what she's done." He explained that there is something to be said for someone that has done that. He spoke of a debate that Governor Kim Reynolds and candidate Fred Hubbell had where she kept asking of her opponent who wanted to do various thing in the state, "Where are we going to get the money?" Kavanaugh: Grassley also spoke of the "mobs on capital hill" during the Kavanaugh hearings and how that did not play well for the democrats He said simply that voters need to "remember Kavanaugh". He said of Justice Kavanaugh that he would follow the rule of law and not mob rule and that Kavanaugh would be a justice that would interpret the law not make the law, and interpret the intent of the law. Immigration: Grassley said of Immigration, "If you say that you don't want the group coming in from Mexico, people think that you are against immigration when that isn't the case at all. We aren't against immigrants. 1 million a year come to live and work, we're very inviting." Of the people coming in from Mexico, "probably some could come to this country legally, but they are coming in this way, simply because they can do it. You wouldn't go to another country without a passport or visa would you?" he said to the crowd. He also explained that the military that are headed to the border, they can't do the job of law enforcement, but they will be there to support law enforcement. On the border, he said that there are between 1-1,700 arrested every day. The Wall: When asked what the hold up was to building a wall he said simply that "Some want open borders. He said of the cost, the plan is to get it in to the appropriations before November 7th, and "if we hold the house we can probably get it", he said, "and if not, we probably never will." He explained that there are a little over 2000 miles of border wall needed and explained that the term "wall" doesn't necessarily mean a physical wall, but it includes adding more border security, border patrol, fence, electronic surveillance, ending the catch and release program and having more immigration judges." He said of a wall and if it works, Grassley said, "Ask Israel." He said that Mexico is now trying to keep the border between Mexico and Guatemala which is only 200 miles long, much more secure, explaining that they have put their military at the border and offering 200 people a day asylum in Mexico. Trade with China: He explained that a message was sent to China that we would be willing to sit down with China after we knew what China was willing to put on the table, but so far they have been hesitant to do that so negotiations with them may or may not happen. Sanctuary Cities: Of these Grassley said simply, "They should go away." He said that he didn't think they couldn't get the 60 votes needed to legislate them away, but he said they can simply not give the cities funding. Social Security: A member of the group attending asked if it was true that there was talk of cutting social security. Grassley chuckled as he explained that people don't realize how afraid elected officials are of people over 65. He said he didn't social security would ever be cut. He did explain that this idea probably comes from that if there was a need for across the board cuts, that medicaid and medicare would be cut, but not social security.