Q: What made you start doing your annual 99 county meetings?
A: People often ask why I started my tradition of holding a meeting with Iowans in every county, every year. When I was first elected to the U.S. Senate, I remember overhearing a remark made by patrons at a local restaurant that it “must be an election year” if so-and-so was in town, concluding politicians only come around when their name’s on the ballot. That’s not how I wanted to operate. I believe representative government is a two-way street. It’s my job to be accessible and accountable to Iowans. Meeting with people face-to-face in every corner of the state – where they live, farm, go to school and work – gives me valuable perspective about their daily lives, from finding affordable child care, losing rural health care providers and pharmacists, or worrying about their child’s online safety. You’ve got to have dialogue to know what keeps people up at night, or what’s standing in the way of their dreams. This give-and-take informs my work on Iowans’ behalf through my legislative and oversight work, from reducing prescription drug costs to reining in federal spending to pushing back against foreign ownership of U.S. farmland. Simply put, showing up and listening helps me be a better leader. My annual 99 county meetings helps me keep my finger on the pulse of Iowans.
Looking back, what started out as a rather ordinary road trip in 1981 turned out to be an extraordinary way to stay connected with Iowans. The annual tradition has become a 44-year odyssey of representative government. From one county to the next, hearing from Iowans on their hometown turf is how the rubber meets the road. No matter the setting, Iowans set the agenda. During the hour meeting, I open the floor to questions after presenting a brief update on the people’s business in Congress. Every year, I enjoy the opportunity to tour factories and small businesses in communities across Iowa. It’s inspiring to learn about their work and meet the next generation of owners of a family business. I often say Iowans don’t brag enough about our high-quality products and impressive productivity of our workforce. Young people rarely come to my town meetings so I particularly enjoy the dozen or so meetings I have each year at high schools. Answering questions from the next generation gives me hope for the future of our country. Having a mix of open town halls and meetings at schools, small businesses and hospitals helps ensure I see people who can’t leave work or skip class to attend a town hall meeting.
Q: What’s your key takeaways from your 44th annual county meetings?
A: First of all, it’s an incredible honor to represent Iowans in the U.S. Senate. I don’t take this job for granted and I’m working as hard as ever to uphold the public trust. In August, I completed my 44th consecutive year holding at least one meeting in all 99 Iowa counties. This year, I held the final eight county meetings in Pocahontas, Dickinson, Osceola, O’Brien, Lyon, Sioux, Plymouth and Woodbury. In 2024, a handful of issues was top of mind for a majority of Iowans. Those include the farm bill, inflation, prescription drug prices, this administration’s open border policies and the downturn in the farm economy. The high cost of living has made it harder for working families to make ends meet. Another common issue that comes up is concern about divisions in American society and distrust that’s fueling gridlock in government. That’s why I champion transparency and accountability to restore confidence in government institutions. In the U.S. Senate, I work across the aisle to solve problems and recently was recognized among the most bipartisan lawmakers in Congress. Although Iowans have reason to worry about polarization, I have great hope in America. For example, my 99 county meetings reflect the spirit of representative government, giving people from all walks of life the opportunity to ask questions on any subject, share their opinions or tell me they disagree with a position I’ve taken. Having dialogue is central to our participatory democracy. That’s the essence of American exceptionalism. Our nation is founded on the principle that our blessings of freedom are endowed by our Creator, manifested in our system of self-government.
Scheduling up to five county meetings in one day requires diligent time management. I work hard to squeeze every minute out of the day and earn every penny in my paycheck. Now, even after 44 years of holding my annual county meetings, I only get to meet face-to-face with a few thousand people over the course of a year, not all 3.2 million Iowans who live in the Tall Corn State. So, I encourage people to keep in touch by calling my office, sending an email or writing a letter. For the rest of this year, I’ll continue meeting with Iowans across the state and look forward to starting my 45th annual 99 county meetings in 2025.
Author: Charles Grassley
Chuck Grassley of New Hartford has represented Iowa in the United States Senate since 1980.
