Grassley urges Obama to address trade, jobs during Iowa visit

By James Q. Lynch 

The Gazette

When he comes to southeast Iowa next week, President Obama should talk about South Korea, Colombia and Panama, Sen. Chuck Grassley said Wednesday.

The president needs to address small business job creation and that means opening markets in those countries so U.S. manufacturers, producers and workers can compete on a level playing field, the Iowa Republican said.

Preliminary plans call for Obama's White House to Main Street Tour to make stops in Fort Madison, Mount Pleasant, Ottumwa and Des Moines April 27 between stops in Illinois and Missouri.

During the visit, Obama will meet with workers, farmers, small business owners and local leaders to share ideas for continuing to grow the economy and to put Americans back to work, according to the White House. He also wants to hear about the challenges rural Americans face and to listen to their ideas for working together to turn the economy around.

Grassley hopes Obama talks about reversing the “hostile climate for job creation” as well as how cap-and-trade plans would harm the coal-dependent Midwest and opening foreign markets U.S. farmers and manufacturers.

“He ought to be talking about getting the (trade) agreements through Congress because they mean so much in rural America,” Grassley said.

He cited Peoria, Illinois-based Caterpillar as an example of Midwest-based manufacturer that is at a disadvantage because of the lack of free-trade agreements. Equipment Caterpillar builds in Europe can be shipped to Colombia, for example, duty=free because of trade agreements, Grassley said.

“If they are made in Peoria, they pay a 35 percent tariff,” he said. “So level the playing field for the American worker by getting these agreements passed.”

One of Grassley's potential challengers, Democrat Bob Krause of Fairfield, agreed that jobs need to be at the top of the president's agenda when he visits.

“I think the most important thing that Obama can tell Iowans is what he will do about jobs,” Krause said Wednesday during a live chat with The Gazette and other Iowa media.

Krause claimed 300,000 jobs per month are being outsources to Mexico and Asia as a result of international trade agreements, including the Clinton-era North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He also cited an economist's prediction that one-in-four will go overseas in the next 10 years.

Grassley also would like Obama to show his support for alternative fuels by calling for an extension of tax credits for biodiesel and increasing the ethanol standard to E15.

“I know the president is for ethanol and biodiesel,” Grassley said. “He ought to be talking to EPA to get done what he believes in on ethanol. Get us E15. He ought to tell them to get the show on the road.”

E15 contains 15 percent ethanol and 85 gasoline. The standard no is 10 percent ethanol.