[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 181 (Thursday, October 22, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S6383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Fiscal Responsibility

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, what we have seen over the last week 
are attempts to get COVID relief up and Democrats won't let us bring it 
up, even though there is widespread agreement on the need for more 
COVID relief for families, for small businesses, for farms, for schools 
and colleges, and for additional funding for testing and vaccines. 
These are all noncontroversial items being held up by Democrat leaders' 
all-or-nothing negotiating position.
  One controversial item they insist on is bailing out irresponsible 
State governments.
  Iowa's years of sound governance and fiscal responsibility, including 
a rainy day fund that is full, has paid off in times like this. A study 
for the Council of State Governments ranked every State's ability to 
weather the economic impact of the pandemic. It found my State of Iowa 
to be fiscally sound--the most resilient State in the country.
  In addition to the Council of State Governments, the CATO Institute 
ranked our Governor's fiscal policy second out of all 50 States. Other 
States haven't made the same tough decisions and weren't ready before 
the pandemic.
  Now Democrats want Iowans' Federal tax money to bail out 
irresponsible State governments and somehow this is worth holding up 
relief for struggling families. Come on
  I yield the floor.