CLINTON —
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Tuesday shared his thoughts on energy regulation, big government, the Thomson, Ill., Correctional Facility and more at a townhall meeting with 100 LyondellBasell employees and community members.
Local and state elected officials also attended the event.
Grassley is touring eastern Iowa while the Senate is on a session break. He said he was surprised questions on Social Security, medicare and the farm bill weren’t asked.
Before the question-and-answer session, Grassley toured LyondellBasell’s ehtylene manufacturing facility in Clinton. The tour was followed by an employee presentation about the facility’s community involvement and operations.
Much of the question-and-answer session focused on Grassley’s disapproval of government regulations, which restrict energy extraction activities such as hydraulic fracturing or fracking. Grassley argued that the U.S. should be harvesting more of its own fuels rather than looking overseas.
“We have to look into wind energy, fossil fuels, conservation, alternative energy and nuclear energy,” Grassley said.
Grassley decried regulators restricting energy options.
“They want to change your lifestyle. They want you in American to throw away your car and get bicycles,” Grassley said.
Grassley garnered applause from the audience for an ardent response after an audience member thanked him for his investigation of Operation Fast and Furious. The senator is the ranking Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Under the operation, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms allowed more than 2,000 weapons to be passed to suspected arms smugglers in hopes the weapons would lead to the arrests of high ranking members of Mexican drug cartels. However, most of the arms have not been recovered and many have been linked to crimes, including the fatal shooting of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in December 2010.
“Fire whoever was in charge,” Grassley asserted. “We’re going to continue until we get to the bottom of it.”
The senator then fielded questions about the effects of President Barack Obama’s healthcare bill and the fate of the Thomson, Ill. correctional facility which had previously been pegged to hold prisoners from Guantanamo Bay.
“I don’t think there will be any action on Thomson prison,” Grassley said. Grassley added he didn’t want to see terrorists housed there.
Grassley, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee, also said he didn’t predict any action on the budget deficit until after November.
The Senate's main focus upon returning from break will be appropriation bills, defense authorization and appropriation bill, the farm bills and overriding the Environmental Protection Agency and other regulations, according to Grassley.
When an audience member asked what citizens could do to help him, Grassley chuckled.
“If we were in church I would tell you to pray for us in government, pray for our wisdom,” he joked.
On a more serious note he said, “Communicate with your congressman or senator more and hold them responsible.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley on Tuesday held a town hall meeting with community leaders, elected officials and 100 LyondellBasell employees at the LyondellBasell facility in Clinton. Katie Dahlstrom/Clinton Herald
Discussion
May 30, 2012
Grassley tours Clinton facility
- Local News
-
-
City administrator candidate bios
Read the complete bios of Clinton City Administrator candidates Jessica Kinser and Benjamin Benson.
-
Council interviews first of two city administrator finalists
The Clinton City Council spent an hour and a half questioning city administrator finalist Ben Benson during an interview Friday afternoon.
- Council wants to keep city clear of eyesores CAMANCHE -- Property owners along Washington Boulevard will receive letters from the city of Camanche about keeping the area looking nice. Councilman Gary Kampe said there are some areas along the newly constructed roadway that have a lot of junk sit
- County talks anti- nepotism policy, vehicle guidelines CLINTON -- The Clinton County Board of Supervisors this week discussed possible human resources policies. Human Resources Director Lynn Tibbetts introduced a rough draft of an anti-nepotism policy for the county. This policy would prevent a family me
- Northeast preps for end of grade sharing GOOSE LAKE -- The Northeast School Board is planning to add bus stops next year under the worst-case scenario that a Clinton County District Court judge does not force the Easton Valley School District to honor a whole-grade sharing agreement. North
-
Memorial park: A place to remember
FULTON, Ill. -- Fulton American Legion Commander Bill Blecha's goal is to have a park where members of the community can reflect on the sacrifices of past, present and future veterans.
-
Committee looking for new Camanche City Hall location
A committee has agreed to look at alternative locations for Camanche City Hall.
-
CVB director hiring announced
A new director has been hired to lead the Clinton Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
-
City creates demolition list
City officials are looking at different properties that need to be demolished throughout the city and soon will consider a new ordinance they hope will deter the need for future nuisance building demolition.
- No one injured in morning fire CLINTON — No one was injured in an early morning fire at Hawthorne Woods Apartments, 1241 Gateway. The Clinton Fire Department was dispatched at 1:23 a.m. today for smoke and fire in a bedroom of a multi-family apartment complex. According to a press
- More Local News Headlines
-
