Chuck Grassley

=== Tenure ===
==== 1980–1989 ====
[[File:Reagan Contact Sheet C4794 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Grassley with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1981]]

In November 1981, Grassley was one of 32 senators to sign a letter to President Reagan supporting Director of the Office of Management and Budget [[David Stockman]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/14/us/32-gop-senators-praise-stockman-others-skeptical.html|title=32 G.O.P. SENATORS PRAISE STOCKMAN; OTHERS SKEPTICAL|author=Tolchin, Martin|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 14, 1981|access-date=July 26, 2018|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726203309/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/11/14/us/32-gop-senators-praise-stockman-others-skeptical.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 1982, while the Reagan administration tried persuading senators to approve legislation authorizing the creation of a radio station for broadcasting to Cuba, Grassley joined fellow Iowa senator [[Roger Jepsen]] and [[Edward Zorinsky]] in seeking an amendment to the bill barring the Reagan administration from operating Radio Marti on that frequency or other commercial AM frequencies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/20/world/quarrel-in-senate-over-radio-marti.html|title=QUARREL IN SENATE OVER RADIO MARTI|first=Judith|last=Miller|date=August 20, 1982|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 13, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813124339/https://www.nytimes.com/1982/08/20/world/quarrel-in-senate-over-radio-marti.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 1983, Grassley voted against establishing a legal holiday to commemorate [[Martin Luther King Jr.]]'s birthday.<ref>{{cite news |title=SENATE'S ROLL-CALL VOTE ON KING HOLIDAY |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/20/us/senate-s-roll-call-vote-on-king-holiday.html |access-date=January 24, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 20, 1983 |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114084211/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/20/us/senate-s-roll-call-vote-on-king-holiday.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2015, an aide to Grassley said that he voted against the holiday due to an "economic decision both in the cost to the broader economy in lost productivity, and the cost to the taxpayers with the federal government closed".<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Kamisar|first1=Ben|title=Lawmakers reflect on MLK Day 'no' votes|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/229844-lawmakers-reflect-on-no-votes-on-mlk-day/|newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|quote=Grassley aide: "Senator Grassley’s vote against an MLK Day holiday was purely an economic decision both in the cost to the broader economy in lost productivity, and the cost to the taxpayers with the federal government closed"|date=January 18, 2015|access-date=December 22, 2019|archive-date=December 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222203623/https://thehill.com/homenews/229844-lawmakers-reflect-on-no-votes-on-mlk-day|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004, Grassley co-sponsored legislation giving King a posthumous award, which became law on October 25 that year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S.1368 - A bill to authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress to Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. (posthumously) and his widow Coretta Scott King in recognition of their contributions to the Nation on behalf of the civil rights movement.|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/1368/cosponsors%20?searchResultViewType=expanded|website=congress.gov|year=2003–2004|access-date=December 22, 2019|archive-date=July 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728143202/https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/senate-bill/1368/cosponsors%20?searchResultViewType=expanded|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Some evolved on MLK honor|url=https://www.newsday.com/opinion/editorial/mlk-jr-day-history-1.26111828|newspaper=[[Newsday]]|date=January 20, 2019|access-date=December 22, 2019|archive-date=December 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222203625/https://www.newsday.com/opinion/editorial/mlk-jr-day-history-1.26111828|url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 1, 1984, Grassley signed a one-page citation of contempt of Congress against Attorney General [[William French Smith]] due to Smith's not turning over files on an investigation into Navy shipbuilding. Assistant Attorney General [[Stephen S. Trott]] called the citation "out of place" since Grassley was not acting at a session of the Judiciary panel he led.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/01/business/contempt-citation-in-dynamics-case.html|title=Contempt Citation in Dynamics Case|author=Biddle, Wayne|date=November 1, 1984|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 26, 2018|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726201935/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/11/01/business/contempt-citation-in-dynamics-case.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 1987, the Senate Appropriations Committee defeated an attempt by Grassley to hasten payments of corn and other feed grain subsidies ahead of the scheduled payment taking place after October 1. Grassley's measure was also designed to unravel an accounting device lawmakers had used to make it appear that they were reducing spending for the incoming fiscal year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/01/Government-suspends-farm-price-support-payments/4468546840000/?tt=6|title=Government suspends farm price support payments|date=May 1, 1987|publisher=UPI|access-date=August 12, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813004256/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/05/01/Government-suspends-farm-price-support-payments/4468546840000/?tt=6|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 1987, during a press briefing, Grassley accused Reagan of being "asleep at the switch" and botching the handling of [[Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination|Robert Bork's Supreme Court nomination]], adding that Bork's nomination had convinced him that the Reagan administration "has been terribly lucky for the last seven years" in other matters, including the economy and foreign policy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/08/Sen-Charles-Grassley-R-Iowa-a-leading-conservative-supporter-of/2021560664000/|title=Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, a leading conservative supporter of...|date=October 8, 1987|publisher=UPI|access-date=August 12, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813005031/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/08/Sen-Charles-Grassley-R-Iowa-a-leading-conservative-supporter-of/2021560664000/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, Grassley likened the groups lobbying against Bork's nomination to the [[McCarthyism]] of the 1950s: "The big lie is standard operating procedure for some of these groups. All you have to do is repeat the same outrageous charges, and repeat them so often that people believe they are true."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/22/Supporters-of-Robert-Borks-Supreme-Court-nomination-renewed-their/3131561873600/|title=Supporters of Robert Bork's Supreme Court nomination renewed their...|date=October 22, 1987|publisher=UPI|access-date=August 12, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813005324/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/22/Supporters-of-Robert-Borks-Supreme-Court-nomination-renewed-their/3131561873600/|url-status=live}}</ref> In November, as party leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee met on the Supreme Court nomination of [[Douglas H. Ginsburg]], Grassley released the text of a letter he intended to send to the [[American Bar Association]] suggesting the association was dragging its feet in reviewing Ginsburg's record.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1987-11-05/news/mn-18882_1_senate-panel|title=Senate Panel Refuses to Rush Hearings on Ginsburg|first=David|last=Lauter|date=November 5, 1987|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=October 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017040440/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-11-05/news/mn-18882_1_senate-panel|url-status=live}}</ref> After Ginsburg admitted having smoked marijuana, Grassley said, "You like to think people who are appointed to the Supreme Court respect the law."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1987-11-06/news/mn-12868_1_judge-ginsburg|title=Ginsburg Admits Smoking Marijuana in '60s and '70s|first1=David|last1=Lauter|first2=Melissa|last2=Healy|date=November 6, 1987|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=October 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026180008/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-11-06/news/mn-12868_1_judge-ginsburg|url-status=live}}</ref> Grassley joined [[Jesse Helms]] in resisting the nomination of [[Anthony Kennedy]], Reagan's next choice for the Supreme Court; he indicated that he would have preferred that Reagan instead nominate Judge [[Pasco Bowman II]] or Judge [[John Clifford Wallace]].{{efn|Immediately following Bork's rejection Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee emphatically declared both Bowman and Wallace unacceptable.<ref name="High">Epstein, Aaron; "3 High Court Hopefuls Deemed OK"; ''[[The Miami Herald]]'', October 28, 1987, p. 16.</ref> [[list of United States senators from Vermont|Vermont's]] [[Patrick Leahy]] added that if any candidate unacceptable to the Democratic Senate majority were nominated, Senate Democrats would refuse to hold hearings on that nominee and keep the seat open until after [[1988 United States presidential election|the 1988 presidential election]].<ref>Yalof, David Alistair; ''Pursuit of Justices: Presidential Politics and the Selection of Supreme Court Nominees'', p. 164. {{ISBN|9780226945460}}.</ref>}} Grassley expressed distaste for "the people who are committed to changing the judiciary" and taking "the path of least resistance".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/11/10/President-Reagan-nominates-Judge-Anthony-Kennedy-to-Supreme-Court/1605563518800/|title=President Reagan nominates Judge Anthony Kennedy to Supreme Court|first=Helen|last=Thomas|date=November 10, 1987|publisher=UPI|access-date=August 12, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813043303/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/11/10/President-Reagan-nominates-Judge-Anthony-Kennedy-to-Supreme-Court/1605563518800/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 1989, as the Senate voted to schedule a vote within a month on a pay increase, Grassley asked how senators would decline federal program increases "come March and April if the first thing out of the box is a pay raise".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/05/us/senate-leaders-reacting-to-criticism-agree-to-vote-on-rejecting-a-raise.html|title=Senate Leaders, Reacting to Criticism, Agree to Vote on Rejecting a Raise|author=Rasky, Susan F.|date=January 5, 1989|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 12, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813103349/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/05/us/senate-leaders-reacting-to-criticism-agree-to-vote-on-rejecting-a-raise.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In February, he was one of six senators to testify against the 50% pay increase scheduled to take effect the next week.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/02/us/tempers-and-patience-short-in-pay-conscious-congress.html|title=Tempers and Patience Short In Pay-Conscious Congress|author=Oreskes, Michael|date=February 2, 1989|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 12, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813043315/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/02/us/tempers-and-patience-short-in-pay-conscious-congress.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In October, he was one of nine senators to vote against legislation intended to outlaw flag burning and other forms of flag defacement and joined [[Bob Dole]] and [[Orrin Hatch]], the other two Republicans to vote against the bill, in voicing a preference for a constitutional amendment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/06/us/flag-burning-ban-is-voted-by-senate.html|title=Flag-burning Ban is Voted by Senate|date=October 6, 1989|author=Toner, Robin|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 12, 2018|archive-date=August 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813005034/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/06/us/flag-burning-ban-is-voted-by-senate.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 1990–1999 ====
[[File:MAXWH.jpg|thumb|left|Senators Grassley and [[Max Baucus]] (D-MT), and Representative [[Clay Shaw (politician)|Clay Shaw]] (R-FL) (left to right) address the media after a meeting at the [[White House]] with President [[Bill Clinton]]]]
In January 1991, Grassley was one of only two Republican senators to vote against [[Gulf War|joining the international coalition to force Iraq out of Kuwait]], the other being [[Mark Hatfield]] of [[Oregon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/102-1991/s2|title=S.J.Res. 2 (102nd): Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution|work=govtrack.us|access-date=September 18, 2020|archive-date=September 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905124919/https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/102-1991/s2|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 1991, he became one of six Republicans on the Select Senate Committee on POW-MIA Affairs that would investigate the number of Americans still missing in the aftermath of the [[Vietnam War]] following renewed interest.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/08/02/Senate-creates-POW-MIA-panel/7728681105600/|title=Senate creates POW-MIA panel|date=August 2, 1991|publisher=UPI|access-date=December 16, 2018|archive-date=December 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014715/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/08/02/Senate-creates-POW-MIA-panel/7728681105600/|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 1998, President [[Bill Clinton]] listed Grassley among the members of Congress who had made it possible "for me to sign into law today the [[Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998|Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act]]".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PPP-1998-book2/html/PPP-1998-book2-doc-pg1297.htm |title=Remarks on Signing the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 |last=Clinton |first=Bill |author-link=Bill Clinton |date=July 22, 1998 |publisher=Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529055535/https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PPP-1998-book2/html/PPP-1998-book2-doc-pg1297.htm |archive-date=May 29, 2018 |url-status = dead|quote=And in particular, let me thank Senator Kerrey and Congressman Portman, Senator Roth, Senator Moynihan, Senator Grassley, Congressman Archer, Congressman Rangel, Congressman Cardin for their leading work that makes it possible for me to sign into law today the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act.}}</ref> On February 12, 1999, Grassley was one of 50 senators to vote to [[Impeachment trial of Bill Clinton|convict and remove Bill Clinton from office]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Roll Call of Votes on Articles of Impeachment|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/politics/021399ap-rollcall-vote.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=February 12, 1999|access-date=December 29, 2019|archive-date=January 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106164903/https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/politics/021399ap-rollcall-vote.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== 2000–2009 ====
[[File:President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney Attend a Meeting with Senator Charles Grassley in the Oval Office (02).jpg|thumb|Grassley meets with President [[George W. Bush]] and Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] in 2001]]
In May 2001, Grassley met with Democratic senator [[Max Baucus]] over the allocation of finances in tax cuts and both reported they were making progress in reaching a bipartisan deal, Grassley adding that the bill would contain all four of the main elements proposed by the Bush administration and the Senate Finance Committee would modify the components of the Bush proposal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/09/us/panel-reaches-deal-on-budget-framework.html|title=Panel Reaches Deal on Budget Framework|date=May 9, 2001|first1=Richard W.|last1=Stevenson|first2=David E.|last2=Rosenbaum|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 26, 2018|archive-date=February 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213180502/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/09/us/panel-reaches-deal-on-budget-framework.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2002, Grassley sent a letter to president and chief executive of the [[United Way of America]] Brian Gallagher requesting a detailed explanation on the overseeing of both finances and management of the organization's affiliates. Grassley also wrote to chief executive of the United Way of the National Capital Area Norman O. Taylor in regards to allegations of affiliates misappropriating money as well as withholding information the board needed to allow its conducting of oversight.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/22/us/senator-questions-finances-of-united-way.html|title=Senator Questions Finances of United Way|first=Stephanie|last=Storm|date=August 22, 2002|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 26, 2018|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726201743/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/22/us/senator-questions-finances-of-united-way.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

As a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley has spearheaded many probes into alleged misuse and lack of accountability of federal money. In July 2007, a Grassley-commissioned report was released claiming that more than US$1 billion in [[agricultural subsidy|farm subsidies]] were sent to deceased individuals.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003803149_watch24.html | title = Dead farmers got subsidies | work = [[The Seattle Times]] | date = July 24, 2007 | access-date = July 24, 2007 |url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929143432/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003803149_watch24.html | archive-date = September 29, 2007 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Grassley was called a "Taxpayer Super Hero" in 2014 by the Council for [[Citizens Against Government Waste]]. He received a 100 percent rating from the group that year and has a lifetime rating of 78 percent.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ccagw-honors-sen-chuck-grassley-for-being-a-taxpayer-super-hero-2015-07-30 | title = CCAGW Honors Sen. Chuck Grassley for Being a "Taxpayer Super Hero" | work = [[MarketWatch]] | date = July 30, 2015 | access-date = September 27, 2015 |url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150928232619/http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ccagw-honors-sen-chuck-grassley-for-being-a-taxpayer-super-hero-2015-07-30 | archive-date = September 28, 2015 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Grassley was ranked the 5th most bipartisan Senator of the [[114th United States Congress]] and the 7th most bipartisan Senator in the first session of the [[115th United States Congress|115th Congress]] by the Bipartisan Index, a metric created by [[the Lugar Center]] for [[Richard Lugar#The Lugar Center|the Lugar Center]] and [[Georgetown University|Georgetown's]] [[McCourt School of Public Policy]] to rank members of the United States Congress by their degree of bipartisanship.<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.thelugarcenter.org/assets/htmldocuments/The%20Lugar%20Center%20-%20McCourt%20School%20Bipartisan%20Index%20114th%20Congress%20House%20Scores.pdf|title=The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index|publisher=[[Richard Lugar#The Lugar Center|The Lugar Center]]|date=March 7, 2016|access-date=April 30, 2017|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621172910/http://www.thelugarcenter.org/assets/htmldocuments/The%20Lugar%20Center%20-%20McCourt%20School%20Bipartisan%20Index%20114th%20Congress%20House%20Scores.pdf|archive-date=June 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thelugarcenter.org/assets/htmldocuments/Senate%20Scores%20115th%20Congress%20First%20Session.pdf|publisher=The Lugar Center|title=The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index|date=April 24, 2018|access-date=July 2, 2018|location=Washington, D.C.|archive-date=July 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702180136/http://www.thelugarcenter.org/assets/htmldocuments/Senate%20Scores%20115th%20Congress%20First%20Session.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2004, Grassley released an internal report composed by the FBI in 2000 that examined 107 instances of either serious or criminal misconduct by its agents over a 16-year period. In a letter to the FBI, Grassley called the report "a laundry list of horrors with examples of agents who committed rape, sexual crimes against children, other sexual deviance and misconduct, attempted murder of a spouse, and narcotics violations, among many others" and added that the report's findings raised questions about whether the FBI handled agents "soon enough and rigorously enough".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/19/us/senator-says-report-chronicling-misconduct-by-fbi-agents-is-a-list-of-horrors.html|title=Senator Says Report Chronicling Misconduct by F.B.I. Agents Is a 'List of Horrors'|date=February 19, 2004|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Eric|last=Lichtblau|access-date=July 26, 2018|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726201806/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/19/us/senator-says-report-chronicling-misconduct-by-fbi-agents-is-a-list-of-horrors.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 28, 2006, Grassley proposed legislation<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/27/pimp.tax/|title=Senator seeks tax on pimps, prostitutes|first=Jonathan|last=Schienberg|date=June 28, 2006|access-date=August 17, 2006|work=[[CNN]]|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821101655/http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/27/pimp.tax/|archive-date=August 21, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://grassley.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=5114|access-date=August 17, 2006|title=Grassley Press Release on the "Pimp Tax"|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628222544/http://grassley.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=5114|archive-date=June 28, 2006}}</ref> intended to curb [[sex trafficking]] and [[sexual slavery]] in the United States by means of strict enforcement of tax laws, for example by requiring a [[Form W-2|W-2]] form be filed for each [[prostitute]] managed by a [[pimp]] or other employer.

Since 1976, Grassley has repeatedly introduced measures that increase the level of [[Taxation in the United States|taxation]] on American citizens living abroad, including retroactive tax hikes. Grassley was eventually able to attach an amendment to a piece of legislation that went into effect in 2006, which increased taxes on Americans abroad by targeting housing and living incentives paid by foreign employers and held them accountable for federal taxes, even though they did not currently reside in the United States. Critics of the amendment felt that the move hurt Americans competing for jobs abroad by putting an unnecessary tax burden on foreign employers. Others felt that the move was only to offset the revenue deficit caused by [[Bush tax cuts|domestic tax cuts]] of the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush Administration]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/business/30tax.html | work = [[The New York Times]]| title = Americans Living Abroad Get a Nasty Tax Surprise | first1 = Keith | last1 = Bradsher | date = May 30, 2006 | access-date = April 30, 2010 |url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110512165003/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/30/business/30tax.html | archive-date = May 12, 2011 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/12/news/expats.php | title = Americans abroad face higher United States tax bills | work = [[International Herald Tribune]] | first = Dan | last = Bilefsky | date = May 12, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060619204314/http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/05/12/news/expats.php | archive-date = June 19, 2006}}</ref><ref>[http://www.aca.ch/cadtaxlt.htm Senator Charles Grassley’s Letter of October 3rd 2007 in the Wall Street Journal Provokes Vivid Response.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201150031/http://www.aca.ch/cadtaxlt.htm |date=February 1, 2009 }}</ref>

In March 2009, amid a scandal that involved [[American International Group|AIG]] executives receiving large salary bonuses from the taxpayer-funded bailout of AIG, Grassley suggested that those AIG employees receiving large bonuses should follow the so-called 'Japanese example', resign immediately or commit [[Seppuku|suicide]]. After some criticism, he dismissed the comments as rhetoric.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29733519|title=Pressure grows on AIG to return bonuses|website=[[NBC News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=March 18, 2009|access-date=November 22, 2019|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923224916/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29733519|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/17/1839673.aspx|title=Grassley dismisses suicide talk as rhetoric|website=[[MSNBC]]|first=Domenico|last=Montanaro|date=March 17, 2009|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320043833/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/17/1839673.aspx|archive-date=March 20, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/grassley-aig-should-take-its-medicine-not-hemlock|title=Grassley: A.I.G. Must Take Its Medicine (Not Hemlock)|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Kate|last=Phillips|date=March 17, 2009|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319151817/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/grassley-aig-should-take-its-medicine-not-hemlock/|archive-date=March 19, 2009}}</ref>

In May 2009, Grassley cosponsored a resolution to amend the [[US Constitution]] to prohibit [[Flag desecration|flag burning]].<ref>{{cite news| last = Hancock | first = Jason | url = http://iowaindependent.com/14889/grassley-cosponsors-flag-burning-amendment | title = Grassley cosponsors flag-burning amendment| newspaper=[[Iowa Independent]]|date = May 8, 2009 | access-date = August 23, 2010 |url-status = dead| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120714090823/http://iowaindependent.com/14889/grassley-cosponsors-flag-burning-amendment | archive-date = July 14, 2012 | df = mdy-all }}</ref>

[[File:Chuck Grassley (4088992629).jpg|thumb|Grassley in 2009]]
When President [[Barack Obama]] and the Democratic Party proposed a health reform bill featuring mandated health insurance, Grassley opposed the health insurance mandate, saying that it was a deal breaker.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jason|last=Hancock| work = [[Iowa Independent]]| title = Grassleys opposition to individual insurance mandate comes under fire | date = October 8, 2009 | url = http://iowaindependent.com/20702/grassleys-opposition-to-insurance-mandates-comes-under-fire |url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091011061636/http://iowaindependent.com/20702/grassleys-opposition-to-insurance-mandates-comes-under-fire | archive-date = October 11, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> In response to an audience question at an August 12, 2009, meeting in Iowa, about the end-of-life counseling provisions in the [[America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009|House health care bill]], {{USBill|111|HR|3200}}, Grassley said people were right to fear that the government would "[[pull the plug on grandma]]".<ref>{{cite news | url = https://huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/12/grassley-endorses-death-p_n_257677.html | title = Grassley Endorses "Death Panel" Rumor: "You Have Every Right To Fear" | website= [[Huffington Post]]| first = Sam | last = Stein | date = September 12, 2009 | access-date = August 23, 2010 |url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091216122846/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/12/grassley-endorses-death-p_n_257677.html | archive-date = December 16, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Hancock | first = Jason | url = http://iowaindependent.com/18456/grassley-government-shouldnt-decide-when-to-pull-the-plug-on-grandma | title = Grassley: Government shouldn't 'decide when to pull the plug on grandma' | newspaper= [[Iowa Independent]]| date = August 12, 2009 | access-date = August 23, 2010 |url-status = dead| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120712163722/http://iowaindependent.com/18456/grassley-government-shouldnt-decide-when-to-pull-the-plug-on-grandma | archive-date = July 12, 2012 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last = Hancock | first = Jason | url = http://iowaindependent.com/18485/grassley-repeats-euthanasia-claim | title = Grassley repeats euthanasia claim | newspaper=[[Iowa Independent]]| date = August 12, 2009 | access-date = August 23, 2010 |url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090815053807/http://iowaindependent.com/18485/grassley-repeats-euthanasia-claim | archive-date = August 15, 2009 | df = mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22425001 | title = Sen. Deather | work = [[The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)|The Rachel Maddow Show]] | publisher = [[NBC News]] | date = August 13, 2009 | access-date = August 23, 2010 | df = mdy-all | archive-date = December 1, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191201235806/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22425001 | url-status = live }}</ref> Grassley had previously supported covering end-of-life counseling, having voted for the [[Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act]] of 2003, which stated: "The covered services are: evaluating the beneficiary's need for pain and symptom management, including the individual's need for hospice care; counseling the beneficiary with respect to end-of-life issues and care options, and advising the beneficiary regarding advanced care planning."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iowaindependent.com/18673/grassley-was-for-death-panels-before-he-was-against-them|title=Grassley was for 'death panels' before he was against them|work=[[The Iowa Independent]]|first=Jason|last=Hancock|date=August 14, 2009|access-date=October 9, 2013|archive-date=December 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207195208/http://iowaindependent.com/18673/grassley-was-for-death-panels-before-he-was-against-them|url-status=dead}},</ref> In December 2009, he voted against the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]] (commonly called Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act). It was later reported that Grassley had notified Obama that he would vote against the Affordable Care Act even had the bill been modified to include all of the proposed modifications Grassley had proposed.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hulse|first=Carl|date=January 31, 2021|title=Ghosts of 2009 Drive Democrats' Push for Robust Crisis Response|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/us/democrats-agenda-coronavirus-economy.html|access-date=January 31, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==== 2010–2020 ====
In January 2010, Grassley was one of seven Senate Republicans to sign a letter warning the White House about their serious reservations with Director of the Transportation Security Administration nominee Erroll Southers due to conflicting accounts Southers gave the Senate about his previous tapping of databases for information about his ex-wife's boyfriend in the late 1980s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/07/nation/la-na-souther7-2010jan07|title=GOP senators voice reservations about TSA nominee Erroll Southers|first=Peter|last=Nicholas|date=January 7, 2010|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=December 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210103530/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jan/07/nation/la-na-souther7-2010jan07|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2010, Grassley was one of 26 senators who voted against the ratification of [[New START]],<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark|last=Memmott |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/22/132262684/senate-ratifies-start |title=Senate Ratifies START |website=[[NPR]]|date=December 22, 2010 |access-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-date=March 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331202810/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/12/22/132262684/senate-ratifies-start |url-status=live }}</ref> a [[nuclear arms]] reduction treaty between the United States and [[Russia|Russian Federation]] obliging both countries to have no more than 1,550 strategic warheads as well as 700 launchers deployed during the next seven years along with providing a continuation of on-site inspections that halted when [[START I]] expired the previous year. It was the first arms treaty with Russia in eight years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/world/europe/23treaty.html|title=Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71-26|first=Peter|last=Baker|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 22, 2010|access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-date=December 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229151646/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/world/europe/23treaty.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2013, Grassley opposed a [[gun control]] amendment authored by Senators [[Joe Manchin]] and [[Pat Toomey]], and instead proposed alternative legislation to increase prosecutions of gun violence and increase reporting of mental health data in background checks.<ref name="Ed Tibbetts">{{cite news|url=http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/grassley-proposes-alternative-gun-bill/article_c0a8ffce-75f8-546e-9907-960295eea4ba.html|title=Grassley proposes alternative gun bill|work=[[Quad-City Times]]|first=Ed|last=Tibbetts|date=April 17, 2013|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421025738/http://qctimes.com/news/local/government-and-politics/grassley-proposes-alternative-gun-bill/article_c0a8ffce-75f8-546e-9907-960295eea4ba.html|archive-date=April 21, 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Roast and Ride (29191413552).jpg|thumb|Senator Grassley in 2016]]
On March 9, 2015, Grassley was one of 47 senators to sign a letter to [[Iran]] led by [[Tom Cotton]] to rebuke the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=DelReal|first1=Jose|title=Here's a list of the GOP senators who signed the Iran letter|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/03/10/heres-a-list-of-the-gop-senators-who-signed-the-iran-letter/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=March 10, 2015|access-date=December 29, 2019|archive-date=December 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191229000300/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/03/10/heres-a-list-of-the-gop-senators-who-signed-the-iran-letter/|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2015, Grassley introduced legislation to help protect taxpayers from alleged abuses by the [[Internal Revenue Service]]. The legislation was proposed in response to recent events involving alleged inappropriate conduct by employees at the IRS but was opposed by Democrats.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.radioiowa.com/2015/06/16/senator-grassley-introducing-bill-to-protect-taxpayers-from-irs|title=Senator Grassley introduces bill to protect taxpayers from IRS|work=RadioIowa|first=Matt|last=Kelley|date=June 16, 2015|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928190538/http://www.radioiowa.com/2015/06/16/senator-grassley-introducing-bill-to-protect-taxpayers-from-irs/|archive-date=September 28, 2015}}</ref>{{Anchor|full Grassley}}

Since first taking office in 1981, Grassley has held public meetings in all of Iowa's 99 counties each year, even after losing honorarium payments for them in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Chuck Grassley (R)|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/member/194|website=National Journal Almanac|access-date=August 16, 2014|archive-date=August 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819082922/http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/member/194|url-status=live}}</ref> This has led to the coinage of the term "full Grassley" to describe a presidential candidate visiting all 99 counties of Iowa before the [[Iowa caucuses]].<ref name="full grassley">{{cite web|last1=Glueck|first1=Katie|title=Cruz's bid for a 'full Grassley' succeeds at the wire|url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/iowa-caucus-2016-live-updates/2016/02/ted-cruz-full-grassley-iowa-218543|website=[[Politico]]|date=February 1, 2016|access-date=February 3, 2016|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202091854/http://www.politico.com/blogs/iowa-caucus-2016-live-updates/2016/02/ted-cruz-full-grassley-iowa-218543|archive-date=February 2, 2016}}</ref>

In 2018, Grassley suggested that no women were serving on the Senate Judiciary Committee because of the heavy workload.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/grassley-suggests-absence-of-women-on-judiciary-due-to-committees-heavy-workload/2018/10/05/b289c0fe-c8e7-11e8-b1ed-1d2d65b86d0c_story.html|title=Grassley suggests absence of women on Judiciary due to committee's heavy workload|last=Kane|first=Paul|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en|date=October 5, 2018|access-date=October 11, 2018|archive-date=October 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010181049/https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/grassley-suggests-absence-of-women-on-judiciary-due-to-committees-heavy-workload/2018/10/05/b289c0fe-c8e7-11e8-b1ed-1d2d65b86d0c_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The following week, Grassley added that he would "welcome more women" to serve on the Committee "because women as a whole are smarter than most male senators. And they work real hard, too".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/09/iowa-sen-chuck-grassley-women-smarter-judiciary-committee-women-kavanaugh-metoo-blasey-ford/1579400002/|title=Chuck Grassley: Judiciary should have more women, because they 'are smarter than most male senators'|work=[[The Des Moines Register]]|last=Leys|first=Tony|date=October 8, 2018|access-date=October 12, 2018}}</ref>

In July 2018, after President [[Donald Trump]] nominated [[Brett Kavanaugh]] to the Supreme Court,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/09/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court.html |title=Brett Kavanaugh Is Trump's Pick for Supreme Court |last1=Landler |first1=Mark |date=July 9, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |access-date=July 26, 2018 |archive-date=July 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180710011707/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/09/us/politics/brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Grassley lauded Kavanaugh as "one of the most qualified Supreme Court nominees to come before the Senate",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/09/chuck-grassley-trump-supreme-court-nominee-brett-kavanaugh-superb-choice/768933002/|title=Chuck Grassley: Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh a 'superb' choice|date=July 9, 2018|first=Brianne|last=Pfannenstiel|newspaper=[[Des Moines Register]]|access-date=July 26, 2018}}</ref> and said that critics of Kavanaugh should lessen their confidence in how he would vote given past surprises in voting by members of the Court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/11/chuck-grassley-supreme-court-nominee-brett-kavanaugh-rule-abortion/774873002/|title=Grassley: 'How are you going to know' how Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh will rule?|date=July 11, 2018|first=Stephen|last=Gruber-Miller|newspaper=[[The Des Moines Register]]|access-date=July 26, 2018}}</ref>

In 2016, Senate Republicans refused to consider Obama's nomination of [[Merrick Garland Supreme Court nomination|Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court]]. At the time, Grassley said that the "American people shouldn't be denied a voice" in the nomination, which was "too important to get bogged down in politics". In 2020, after a Supreme Court vacancy arose due to Justice [[Ruth Bader Ginsburg]]'s death, Grassley supported a prompt vote on Trump's nominee, backing the decision of "the current chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the Senate Majority Leader".<ref>{{cite news |title=Where Senate Republicans Stand on Filling the Supreme Court Vacancy |url=https://www.wsj.com/graphics/2020-scotus-senate/ |access-date=September 27, 2020 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200927061343/https://www.wsj.com/graphics/2020-scotus-senate/ |archive-date=September 27, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== 2021–present ====
[[File:Joe Biden and Chuck Grassley Shaking Hands February 2, 2022.jpg|thumb|Grassley meeting with President [[Joe Biden]], February 2022]]
Grassley was participating in the certification of the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count]] when Trump supporters [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|attacked the U.S. Capitol]]. He was removed from the Senate chamber and taken to a secure location when rioters entered the building.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gruber-Miller |first1=Stephen |last2=Pfannenstiel |first2=Brianne |title='Sad day in our democracy,' lawmakers react, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley escorted out of Senate after Trump supporters breach Capitol |url=https://www.thehawkeye.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/06/iowa-sen-chuck-grassley-led-out-us-senate-mayhem-erupts-capitol-donald-trump-electoral-college-loss/6568081002/ |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=The Hawk Eye Newspaper |date=January 6, 2021}}</ref> In the wake of the attack, Grassley said that Trump "displayed poor leadership in his words and actions, and he must take responsibility".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oates |first1=Trevor |title=Rep. Axne will support impeaching President Trump again, Reps. Hinson, Feenstra will not |url=https://kwwl.com/2021/01/08/rep-axne-will-support-impeaching-president-trump-again-reps-hinson-feenstra-will-not/ |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=KWWL |date=January 8, 2021}}</ref> He said efforts to impeach Trump would risk "further disunity" and that "the country must take steps to tone down political rhetoric and mend divisions".<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCullough |first1=Caleb |title=Iowa's congressional delegation split along party lines over impeachment |url=https://dailyiowan.com/2021/01/08/iowas-congressional-delegation-split-along-party-lines-over-impeachment/ |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=The Daily Iowan |date=January 8, 2021}}</ref> In response, ''[[The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)|The Gazette]]'' editorial board wrote that Grassley and other Iowa Republicans "must reckon with why they did the wrong thing for so long".<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff Editorial|title=Gazette editorial: Iowa Republicans must face a reckoning |url=https://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/staff-editorial/gazette-editorial-iowa-republicans-must-face-a-reckoning-20210108 |access-date=January 10, 2021 |work=The Gazette |date=January 8, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>