Chuck Grassley

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Chuck Grassley
Image:Chuck Grassley official photo.jpg
Senior Senator from Iowa
Incumbent
Assumed office January 5, 1981 Serving with Tom Harkin
Preceded by	John Culver
Succeeded by	Incumbent (2011)

Born	September 17 1933 (1933-09-17) (age 75) New Hartford, Iowa
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Barbara Grassley
Alma mater	University of Northern Iowa
Religion	Baptist

Charles Ernest "Chuck" Grassley (born September 17 1933) is the senior United States Senator from Iowa. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was chairman of the Finance Committee from January to June 2001, and from January 2003 to December 2006 and currently serves as the committee's Ranking Member.

1 Early life
2 Political career
3 Whistleblowers
4 Personal life
5 Footnotes
6 External links

[edit] Early life

Born in New Hartford, Iowa to Ruth Corwin and Louis Arthur Grassley,^[1] Grassley lived in Iowa during his early life. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1955 where he was elected to the prestigious Pi Gamma Mu international honor society, and received a graduate degree from the same university in 1956.

In 1987 Grassley was made an honorary member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity at Iowa State University.

[edit] Political career

Grassley, a former assembly line worker and farmer, has been involved in politics for much of his adult life. An active runner, Grassley served as a citizen legislator in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1959 until 1974, when he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, of which he was a member from 1975 to 1981, being reelected in 1976 and 1978. He was elected to his Senate seat in 1980, defeating the Democratic incumbent, John Culver, who had only served one term. Grassley was reelected in 1986, 1992, 1998, and 2004

In the past, Grassley has voted against expensive projects favored by many in his party.^{[citation needed]} He was one of two Republicans to vote against authorizing the first Gulf War. He is a senior member of the Finance Committee and has a moderate record on tax cuts.

Since 1976, Senator Grassley has repeatedly introduced measures that increase the level of double taxation on American citizens living abroad, including retroactive tax hikes. The effects are particularly dramatic in countries where the taxation structure differs from the United States. (The United States is the only industrialized country that subjects its citizens abroad to double taxation.) These tax increases were amplified as the dollar declined precipitously against world currencies. Even if a citizen's income remains the same, they could expect a double digit percentage increase to the US portion of their double tax. ^[2] ^[3] ^[4]

In July 2007, a Grassley-commissioned report was released claiming that more than US$1 billion in farm subsidies were sent to deceased individuals. Grassley said: "It's unconscionable that the Department of Agriculture would think that a dead person was actively engaged in the business of farming." ^[5]

At one time, Grassley was ranked as the third most powerful senator. As of March 2007, he was ranked 25 on the list. ^[6] A late December 2007 poll shows Grassley remains highly popular in Iowa, with 66% approving of his job, and 26% disapproving.[2]

[edit] Whistleblowers

Grassley has campaigned to increase protection and provide support for "whistle-blowers". He has supported a number of FBI whistle-blowers, including Coleen Rowley, Michael German, and Jane Turner.

Grassley received a lifetime achievement award on May 17 2007 from the National Whistleblower Center.

[edit] Personal life

Grassley married Barbara Ann Speicher in September 1954; the couple have five children: Lee, Wendy, Robin, Michele, and Jay.

Grassley is a member of The Family, a Christian group that organizes the National Prayer Breakfast. Grassley is also a Freemason, and is a Baptist.

[edit] Footnotes

^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/senators/grassley.htm
^ http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/business/30tax.html
^ http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/12/news/expats.php
^ http://www.aca.ch/cadtaxlt.htm
^ Dead farmers got subsidies. The Seattle Times (2007-07-24). Retrieved on 2007-07-24.
^ [1]

[edit] External links

United States Senator Chuck Grassley official Senate site

Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
New York Times — Charles E. Grassley News collected news and commentary
The New Republic — "The strange heroism of Chuck Grassley. Earnest Goes to Washington" Eve Fairbanks, September 10, 2007 (subscription required)

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by H.R. Gross	Member from Iowa's 3rd congressional district 1975 – 1981	Succeeded by T. Cooper Evans
United States Senate
Preceded by John Culver	Senator from Iowa (Class 3) 1981 – present Served alongside: Roger Jepsen, Tom Harkin	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by William Cohen	Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee 1997 – 2001	Succeeded by John Breaux
Preceded by Max Baucus	Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee 2003 – 2007	Succeeded by Max Baucus

Iowa's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators	Chuck Grassley (R), Tom Harkin (D)
Representative(s)	Bruce Braley (D), David Loebsack (D), Leonard Boswell (D), Tom Latham (R), Steve King (R)
All delegations	Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands