Grassley continues probe into ministries

(Photo by Randy M. Cauthron) U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley fields questions from a Spencer audience Wednesday at the Clay County Administration Building. His town hall meeting is part of a commitment to visit all of Iowa's 99 counties each year.

The travel plans may include Bettendorf -- but not Baghdad -- according to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley.

He met with Clay County residents Wednesday morning at the Clay County Administration Building. His town hall meeting in Spencer was included in a 35-county tour from March 17-28.

Grassley took questions from the audience and was asked if he had any interest in joining Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, and Vice President Dick Cheney over in Baghdad.

Grassley said he's had numerous opportunities to visit Iraq.

"If you would see what they do when a senator goes over there -- whether it's one or two or three, you've got a whole flock of Humvees following you around to protect you," he said. "You've got a couple of helicopters over head… I figured those guys are over there for success… Why should they be diverting their resources to protecting me? So, I haven't gone."

Grassley has drawn national attention in recent months for his investigation into the seemingly lavish lifestyles of some TV evangelists. The private jets, mansions, and non-profit status of six ministries in particular have captured the senator's attention.

He is conducting his investigation into the ministries through his role as ranking member of the Senate Fiance Committee. The effort has received the support of U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, the Democratic chairman of the Finance Committee.

(Photo by Randy M. Cauthron) Sen. Chuck Grassley spoke to a packed room at the Clay County Administration Building Wednesday morning, covering a variety of topics based on audience questions.

"Five years ago I started investigating non-profits for the reason that we want to preserve the credibility of the tax exemption and we want to make sure non-profit organizations are trustees of your money," Grassley said. "I've investigated a lot of organizations, had their full cooperation and then -- because of journalists' stories and their investigations and because of whistle-blowers -- recently, within the last six months, we've found evidence of things being wrong with televangelism."

Grassley said his office is having trouble getting information from the ministries.

"I assume they are going to cooperate with us because I've had every other non-profit except (lobbyist) Jack Abramoff cooperate with us and he's in prison," Grassley said. "We need the information. I hope nothing's wrong, but we're entitled to the information because we review tax laws, we oversee the IRS -- we've got to make sure they're doing their job -- and churches are just like other non-profits. They have to abide by the same tax laws."

Grassley's current term is set to expire in 2010. He'll be 77 when voters consider candidates for his senate seat.

Iowans shouldn't be surprised to find Grassley's name on the ballot for another six-year term.

"If, at the end of 2009, I can get up and run three miles every morning, I'm going to run for re-election," he said.

The senator also explained why he maintains his goal of visiting all 99 counties in Iowa each year.

"If it's going to be representative government, you've got to have dialogue with your constituents," he said. "So this is a process of making a representative government work."

Plus, as Grassley puts it: "Iowa is much more enjoyable than Washington, D.C."

The senator scheduled stops in Primghar, Sioux Center and Inwood during his travels later Wednesday. He has stops planned in Sibley, Spirit Lake and Estherville on Thursday.