Ask the Answer Person: "Did U.S. Senator Charles Grassley visit Winneshiek County this year?"

Posted: Sun, Sep 13, 2020 12:44 PM

(decorahnews.com file photo)

(Jan asks, "Did (U.S. Senator Charles) Grassley come to Winneshiek County this year or did he sneak in and out with no notice to the public? I certainly would have attended this 'public' meeting he brags about if I had known when and where it was.")

The Answer Person says, "Yes and yes. First, some background.

Jan's question appears to have been prompted by a Letter to the Editor of the Des Moines Register from Senator Grassley. You can read it at: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/iowa-view/2020/09/06/full-chuck-grassley-iowa-40-years-every-county-every-year/5717114002/

In the letter, Senator Grassley says he "wrapped up my 40th consecutive year holding at least one Q&A in each of Iowa's 99 counties."

This is a correct statement. For instance, Senator Grassley visited Decorah on Tuesday, May 26th. Here's how we summarized his meeting:

"On Tuesday, Grassley resumed his county visits, making stops in Clayton, Allamakee and Winneshiek counties. In Decorah, Grassley met with six selected people, so the overall meeting would not be larger than the 10 people limit imposed by COVID-19."

So, yes, Senator Grassley visited Decorah this year, and yes, he spoke to a hand-picked audience of exactly six people. The meeting in May was not publicized to the public, so it depends on what your definition of the word 'public' is as to whether the meeting--held at Decorah City Hall--qualified."

(For a fuller discussion of what qualifies as "the full Grassley," visit the recent article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette: https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/iowa-senator-chuck-grassley-99-county-full-tour-criticism-20200908)