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Trump tapped into voter discontent with Washington: Grassley
James Q. Lynch
Nov. 9, 2016 6:52 pm, Updated: Nov. 10, 2016 10:59 am
CEDAR RAPIDS - Fame is fleeting. Just ask Sen. Chuck Grassley.
A day after the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman was re-elected to a seventh term by a 25-percentage point margin, Grassley was back on his New Hartford farm washing windows Wednesday afternoon. That had him looking forward to getting on a tractor and spending time chisel plowing.
The election results made 'darn clear he tapped into resentment to Washington,” Grassley said about GOP nominee Donald Trump's victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.
'He heard the voice of the grass roots and it was a voice of discontent,” Grassley said. 'The resentment is not limited to just elected officials, but Wall Street and the media, in general. People don't feel they are getting ahead.”
Despite that disenchantment with Washington, Iowa voters gave Grassley, who has been in Congress for 42 years, a 60 percent to 35 percent victory on Tuesday over his Democratic challenger Patty Judge.
'Some people would say I'm part of the establishment, but I don't feel I'm part of the establishment,” Grassley said. He credits his access to Iowa - visiting 99 counties each of the 36 years he's been in the Senate - as well as his constituent service and oversight of federal agencies.
'I'm willing to battle with Democratic and Republican presidents. That sets me apart,” Grassley said to explain why the broad brush voters applied to other 'insiders” and 'Washington elites” didn't sweep him out of office.
In addition to chairing Judiciary Committee hearings in January on filling a Supreme Court vacancy, Grassley wants to work with the Finance Committee on tax reform as well as replacing the Affordable Care Act.
He believes that 'in the broad sense” there is an understanding of what should replace Obamacare, but more detail is needed. Among the components are removing the individual mandate, allowing the sale of health insurance across state lines and increasing the use of health savings accounts.
Republicans, he said, are ready to accept the responsibility of controlling the U.S. House and Senate, and White House.
'It doesn't matter whether we're ready or not because the public expects us to accept it,” Grassley said.