Grassley supports negotiation over military action in terms of Israel-Iran conflict

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, in a Wednesday call with reporters, said he hopes negotiation will be possible in the mounting conflict between Israel and Iran.

“I prefer negotiation over military action,” Grassley said. “I would prefer military action only if there’s an immediate threat to the United States.” 

Grassley, asked about his opinions toward potential U.S. involvement in the conflict, said he is “not in the situation room” as the president is, but said Iran is “an enemy of the United States” when it says “death to Israel and death to America.” 

President Donald Trump has hinted at American involvement in the conflict but has not said publicly how he plans to intervene.

Grassley also spoke about updates from the Senate to the “one big, beautiful bill” which would set federal spending and debt limits. He said it would prevent the “largest tax increase in American history.” 

Senate Republicans announced Monday their plan to raise the U.S. debt limit by $5 trillion, a full $1 trillion more than what the House approved in its version of the bill. 

Grassley, who is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, said contrary to what he hears from Democrats, the bill does not cut taxes for billionaires. Grassley said the tax rates in the bill are the same rates that were set in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 

In a letter from the Congressional Budget Office to the U.S. House Budget Committee ranking member and House minority leader about analysis of the bill, the CBO said “in general, resources would decrease for households toward the bottom of the income distribution, whereas resources would increase for households in the middle and top of the income distribution.” 

Grassley also defended the massive bill’s provisions around the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid. Grassley said the U.S. Senate is not asking states to “pick up a big share of the cost” of the SNAP program, but is leaving it up to the states to cover administrative costs. 

According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, the bill increases the state share of administrative costs from 50% to 75% and would require states with more than 6% error rates to initiate higher cost-sharing rates. It would also significantly reduce federal spending on Medicaid, which offers health care to low-income families. 

The bill has faced criticism for its work requirements for both Medicaid and SNAP recipients, which critics say would add red tape to the programs that would hurt vulnerable populations. 

Grassley said the work requirements “seem to me as good policy.” Grassley said there are numerous exemptions for folks who are unable to work or who have children. The bill also allows for volunteer work, or time spent in school to meet the requirements. 

“Medicaid benefits will not be cut for our most vulnerable, that’s very clear,” Grassley said citing various exemptions. 

Senate leadership has indicated the budget reconciliation bill will be finalized in the Senate before the Fourth of July break.