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Senator Grassley says federal tax cuts helping middle class

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Senator Chuck Grassley.

On this federal tax deadline day, some Iowans are considering changing their withholding allowances.

Federal tax cuts enacted late last year put more money into our checks, but the higher take-home pay could end up being a tax liability. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the tax cuts were “absolutely” worthwhile and are a benefit.

“I would look at it from the big picture of economic growth,” Grassley says. “For eight years, we had economic growth of 1.4% and we’ve gotta’ have 3% economic growth and one way to do it is to cut taxes.” Grassley says that money can be better spent by the people who earned it than by Uncle Sam, as he says politicians in Washington too often let politics influence how those tax dollars are allotted.

“This tax cut is really helping middle class America who, probably between 2000 and right now, has not had any pay increase. Maybe today, their salary’s purchasing power is even less than it was in 2000.” Grassley says the 150-million-some taxpayers nationwide should have more say in how the money they earn is spent — or saved — and the tax cuts return more of that money to the people where he says, “it does more economic good.”

“Jobs, growing the economy, more economic freedom — is what tax cuts are all about,” he says. Grassley, a Republican, says there needs to be less regulation and Congress needs to “be more careful how we spend the taxpayers’ money.”

 

Senator Ernst, Congressman Young praise ‘precise’ strikes against Syria

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Senator Joni Ernst late Friday said allied strikes against Syria make it clear the use of chemical weapons “will not be tolerated.”

Ernst, a Republican, is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. She issued a written statement shortly before 10 o’clock Friday night. Ernst said there is “indisputable” evidence the Syrian regime is guilty of “horrific crimes” against its own people. Ernst called Syrian president Bashar al-Assad a war criminal and she accused Russia and Iran of being “complicit in these chemical weapons attacks on innocent” civilians.

Ernst praised the Trump Administration for “decisive and precise” leadership with our British and French allies.

At midnight, Republican Congressman David Young of Van Meter issued a statement, calling the action against Syrian “strong, swift and targeted.” Young said the U.S. and its allies “cannot tolerate atrocities against the innocent and the use of chemical weapons.”

Congressman Rod Blum of Dubuque sent a “re-tweet: last night, signaling he’s part of a group of Republicans in the U.S. House who will call on President Trump is get authorization from congress before engaging further in Syria. Blum, however, did not issue a written statement on last night’s air strike.

As of 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican Congressman Steve King of Kiron and Congressman Dave Loebsack, a Democrat from Iowa City, had not issued statements on the president’s action in Syria.

Facebook CEO testifies for several hours before Grassley and other Senators

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Senator Chuck Grassley.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, chair of the Judiciary Committee, led a hearing Tuesday that featured testimony from Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The online social network is at the center of a data scandal in which Cambridge Analytica gained access to personal information of 87-million Facebook users. In his opening statement, Grassley raised the possibility of legislation to protect consumers.

“Our policy towards data privacy and security must keep pace with these changes,” Grassley said. “Data privacy should be tethered to consumer needs and expectations.” Grassley also called on Facebook and the operators of other social networks to do more to protect users’ privacy.

“The tech industry has an obligation to respond to widespread and growing concerns over data privacy and security and to restore the public trust. The status quo no longer works,” Grassley said. Later in the hearing, Grassley questioned Zuckerberg directly.

“Why doesn’t Facebook disclose to its users all the ways that data might be used by Facebook and other third parties? And what is Facebook’s responsibility to inform users about that information?” Zuckerberg responded, “Mr. Chairman, I believe it’s important to tell people exactly how the information that they share on Facebook is going to be used.” Zuckerberg said his company and others in the tech industry have “found it challenging” to draft privacy policies that are easy for users to understand.

“And if you make it long and spell out all the detail, then you’re probably going to reduce the percent of people who read it and make it accessible to them,” Zuckerberg said. “So, one of the things that we’ve struggled with over time is to make something that is as simple as possible so people can understand it, as well as giving them controls in line in the product in the context of when they’re trying to actually use them, taking into account that we don’t expect that most people will want to go through and read a full legal document.”

Zuckerberg, who faced nearly five hours of questioning, called legislation that would require Facebook to automatically let users “opt out” of having their data collected or shared “the right principle,” but added “the details matter.”

 

Grassley waiting to hear testimony from Facebook CEO

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The creator of the world’s biggest online social network will appear before Congress this afternoon to answer questions about a recent, massive data scandal.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley will be questioning Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg about how and why the political data firm Cambridge Analytica gained access to personal data from 87-million Facebook users.

Grassley says, “This case clearly broke consumer trust and has been a catalyst for an overdue conversation about data privacy.” Facebook has more than two-billion users globally. Grassley says he can’t be forthcoming about how he’ll question Zuckerberg as it will depend on the testimony he gives before the joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Commerce committees.

Grassley, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, says some senators are already introducing legislation to more tightly regulate Facebook and other social media outlets. “I’m not going to say whether we need more legislation until after we get this hearing over and we study the issue a little bit,” Grassley says. “Mr. Zuckerberg has said that maybe legislation is needed, in fact, I think he’s even encouraged some legislation and regulation.”

If Zuckerberg is apologetic and makes it clear Facebook is doing all it can to keep users’ personal information safe, Grassley says it will set the tone. “We have to have strong testimony that they’ve learned a lesson and that they’re going to be transparent with people on what the privacy rights are, how that data is used, what people can do if they don’t want it used, and that it’s pretty simple,” Grassley says. “Short of that, I think they’re going to be inviting legislation.” Anyone who’s signed up for a social media platform has likely seen, Grassley says, how privacy policies are often buried behind layers of settings or they’re shrouded in confusing legal language.

“Consumers need a better understanding of these companies’ practices to make better informed decisions about their personal information,” Grassley says, “and that means renewed transparency from companies that harvest our information.”

Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify starting around 1:30 p.m. central time.

 

Grassley confirms Facebook CEO will attend Senate hearing

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The CEO of Facebook has agreed to testify before a U.S. Senate committee chaired by Iowa’s Chuck Grassley.

Senator Grassley had announced last week that he planned to hold a Judiciary Committee hearing on data privacy in the wake of the revelation that data from some 50 million Facebook participants may’ve been misused by a research firm. Grassley said he had invited Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to attend the hearing — an now has confirmed that Zuckerberg will be there. It will be a joint hearing with the Senate Commerce Committee next Tuesday.

Grassley said in a statement that “users deserve to know how their information is shared and secured. This hearing will explore approaches to privacy that satisfy consumer expectations while encouraging innovation.”

 

Senator Grassley says tariff issues could work themselves out

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Senator Chuck Grassley. (file photo)

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley talked with reporters today after returning from a trip to China and South Korea in a trade delegation with other Senators.

The trip comes in the wake of the tariffs imposed on China by President Trump and retaliation tariffs — which have Iowa producers concerned. Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, says the Chinese representatives said they are interested in talking more to work out trade issues and he isn’t condemning the U.S. tariffs outright.

“You do in a sense say, yes do you let things play out because the president is in the driver’s seat on this and all we can do is let him know how we feel about it,” Grassley says. “I think at least Republicans have made strong points of view to the president.” Grassley says the administration’s tariffs have not all turned out negative, as he cites the steel and aluminum tariffs.

“Because we were going to impose those duties on South Korea and they agreed to let more cars into South Korea. So, the president has won some points on that,” Grassley says. Senator Grassley says he has repeatedly  told the president his concerns that imposing tariffs could be heading down a “slippery slope” and says he will continue to press the issue when needed.

“We’re still going to continue to express our views and when Iowans or the country as whole are hurt as a result of these trade policies — we are going to speak out against them and fight for our interests,” Grassley says. He says there’s not a lot Congress can do on the trade issues.

“When the president has the authority under the law that he does — passed in the Kennedy Administration 1963 — to impose these tariffs for national security reasons, about the only thing Congress can do….to send a real message is to change the law, and I doubt there is going to be enough support to change that law,” according to Grassley. He says too many Democrats support the moves the president is making to get a change in the law.

“But we still can’t sit back and allow things to go along like we aren’t concerned, because our job is to look out for our constituents,” Grassley says. Grassley says the delegation met with form Iowa Governor Terry Branstad who is now the U.S. Ambassador to China. He says he got the impression that Branstad is committed to preserving the economic strength of the U.S. by working with Chinese officials on these trade issues.

 

Iowa Attorney General, Senator Grassley seeking answers on Facebook use of information

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Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is signing on with counterparts in 37 states and territories asking for answers about the use of member information from the Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Miller says they have several questions after it was revealed that the data of at least 50 million Facebook profiles may have been misused by research firm Cambridge Analytica. “What warning, what information was given to people on their network that this might happen. And what did they do to monitor this so-called researcher was using the data in a way that he pledged to,” Miller says. The letter questions whether the terms of service for users was clear and understandable. Miller says it appears it was not.

“I think it was far from clear and understandable for people to know that their data might be used this way,” Miller says. “And I don’t think that anybody conceived that there would be 50 million people affected this way and they had no notice that this could happen.” The Federal Trade Commission on Monday confirmed that it has opened an investigation into Facebook. Thousands of users have canceled their accounts — and Miller says that is one thing that should help the Attorneys General get answers.

“Yeah, I think the public pressure of some people dropping off and of government officials and press and the public generally has really gotten their attention in a way that we haven’t before,” according to Miller. Miller isn’t sure if the users may have some legal recourse over how their data was used.

“It’s not clear whether there would be a lawsuit that would be possible — we are sort of checking into that and looking into that,” Miller says. “The main thing we want to know is get more information from Facebook and get some real assurances that we can count on that this is just not going to happen again.”

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and he announced Monday that he will be holding a hearing on data privacy on April 10th. Grassley has invited Facebook CEO Zuckerberg to testify at the hearing to discuss Facebook’s past and future policies regarding the protection and monitoring of consumer data.

Information from Grassley’s office says the hearing “will broadly cover privacy standards for the collection, retention and dissemination of consumer data for commercial use. It will also examine how such data may be misused or improperly transferred and what steps companies like Facebook can take to better protect personal information of users and ensure more transparency in the process.”

Grassley also invited Google and Twitter’s CEO’s to discuss the future of data privacy in the social media industry and how to develop “rules of the road” that encourage companies to develop tailored approaches to privacy that satisfy consumer expectations while maintaining incentives for innovation.

 

Senator Grassley holds hearing on Violence Against Women Act

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Senator Chuck Grassley.

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is chairing a Judiciary Committee hearing this morning on what’s known as the Violence Against Women Act. That legislation was originally passed in 1994 and is due to be reauthorized soon. Grassley says the law was designed to better prevent crimes against women and to empower survivors.

“I will hold a hearing on the importance of the law and areas where we can make it an even better law,” Grassley says. “We will hear from two women who’ve made it their life’s work to empower women and seek justice for those who have been victimized.” One of the witnesses is Amanda Nguyen, who was sexually assaulted in Massachusetts in 2013.

“She happens to be on a big mission to secure new rights for others who have been harmed like she has been harmed,” Grassley says. “I worked with Amanda in 2016 to enact a bill that went by the title of Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights.” That law guarantees victims of such crimes at the federal level have access to forensics and related exams and that the evidence is preserved. Nguyen launched a non-profit group called Rise, which is dedicated to preserving and furthering the rights of survivors.

“Crimes targeting women is a very difficult topic,” Grassley says, “but it is important that we do everything in our power to protect and empower victims and to prevent future crimes.” The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

 

Senator Grassley to hold hearings on gun violence

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Senator Chuck Grassley. (file photo)

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley will hold a hearing Wednesday on several bills focused on preventing gun violence that are moving forward in the U.S. Senate.

Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, says he also wants to review factors that led to incidents like last month’s deadly shooting rampage at a high school in Parkland, Florida. “On two recent occasions, in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and in Parkland, we know that our government agencies and law enforcement missed real big red flags that could have prevented these fatalities,” Grassley says. “So at the hearing, we’re going to take a close look at those fatal mistakes.”

Grassley, a Republican, says he wants an in-depth review of pending legislation that could help to prevent future tragedies. “Number one, the Stop School Violence Act would provide the Justice Department grants to schools to improve safety programs,” Grassley says, “and we have the School Safety and Mental Health Services Improvement Act that would fund early intervention and mental health programs in schools.”

One complaint that’s often heard after school shootings is that people who shouldn’t have access to guns are those who carry out such acts of violence. “We have a bill that’s called Fix NICS,” Grassley says. “That’s the acronym for the database that the FBI maintains to see that people that have felonies and other things wrong with them can’t legally buy guns.”

President Trump initially voiced support for raising the minimum age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21 but he’s now moved away from the proposal. Grassley says he’d consider such legislation but wants to focus instead on measures that could pass more quickly.

Tomorrow’s hearing (at 8:30 AM/Central) is called, “See Something, Say Something: Oversight of the Parkland Shooting and Legislative Proposals to Improve School Safety.”

 

Iowa’s congressional delegation sends letter of caution on trade to Trump

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Congressman David Young. (file photo)

Iowa’s congressional delegation is sending a unified message to President Trump: reconsider the threat of imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The group has co-signed a letter to the president, warning Iowa’s farmers and manufacturers would likely be the first harmed by the tariffs or embargos other countries impose in reaction.

Congressman David Young, a Republican from Van Meter, said he hopes the administration does a cost-benefit analysis.

“Iowa’s major exports to China are soybeans and corn and pork and I think about 60 percent of Iowa soybeans go to China,” Young said during an interview on KMA Radio, “and so I worry about retaliatory effects.”

Tariffs ultimately raise the cost of the goods Americans buy, according to Young.

“Trade wars are not good,” Young said. “Nobody wins in a trade war.”

Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, said trade issues are “critical” to Iowa’s economy.

Senator Joni Ernst.

“We do support free and fair trade,” Ernst said during an interview with Brownfield Ag News. “It’s really the foundation of our agricultural economy.”

Ernst said she “appreciates” the president’s goal of putting more Americans back to work in the steel and aluminum industries.

“But we have to understand the impact to other industries such as agriculture, those that are in the agriculture manufacturing business with equipment, making grain bins,” Ernst said. “I mean there are just so many industries that we’ve heard from that will be hurt significantly if these tariffs are imposed.”

Five Republicans and one Democrat represent Iowa in the U.S. House and Senate. All six of them signed onto the letter. President Trump recently suggested in a tweet that a trade war would be easy for the U.S. to win. During the 2016 campaign, Trump often criticized existing free trade deals, like the North American Free Trade Agreement and Trump promised to get tough with China.