Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley criticized Democratic leaders today for do nothing this fall.Grassley says Halloween is just 10 days away, and the legislative graveyard ought to spook Iowans. Grassley, a Republican, says they debated, but failed to pass, a homeland security bill and a budget bill for the Department of the Interior.He says the debate over Iraq took one week out of the seven weeks since Labor Day, but he says it’s the first September since he’s been in the Senate that they haven’t passed a major piece of legislation. Grassley says many bills important to Iowa have languished in the Senate.He says the agenda has been frozen since they came back from Labor Day. Congress returns for a “Lame Duck” session November 12th. Grassley says Democrat leaders haven’t decided how long they’ll stay in Washington. Grassley says he doesn’t even think the Democrat leader can say whether it’ll be one hour or until Christmas Eve. Iowa Democratic Party Chair, Sheila McGuire Riggs responded to Grassley saying she agrees this was a “do-little” Congress. Riggs says though it’s the Republicans in Congress that’ve blocked legislation that would’ve increased Iowa’s Medicare reimbursement rate and sent support to our schools. Riggs says Grassley should look to members of his own party before pointing the finger at Democrats.
