Grassley should hold open, public visits

Thanks for your recent article on Sen. Chuck Grassley's 'visits” to all 99 counties in Iowa and the hypocrisy of transparency that he promotes.

For years Grassley has promoted how he stays in touch with Iowans by going to each county and meeting with them. He's just an 'aw, shucks, meeting down at the local coffee shop” kinda guy. For years I've tried to go to one these meetings in order to see my senator but was frustrated by them not being listed on his website or publicized. The only way I'd find out where he had been is when his e-newsletter would have a photo of him visiting a rural county's Farm Bureau members or, say, The Gazette publishing a photo of him reading to a group of first-graders at an elementary school in Central City. They are orchestrated to a specific targeted audience. These do not count as true, open and public visits to constituents. They are a facade.

Any time I call my senator's office and when I had the opportunity to visit him in person in D.C., whatever issue I talk about, I always note my above observations and make the same request: I look forward to the day when my senator holds an actual public meeting in Linn County open to all and publicizes it in advance.

I'm still waiting, Senator.

Anne Salamon

Cedar Rapids