Sen. Charles Grassley meets with constituents at the Washington County Courthouse Thursday. Photo by Sally Y. Hart

Republican Senator Charles Grassley visited Washington County as part of his 99 county tour Thursday afternoon. He held a town hall meeting in the Washington County Courthouse and constituents asked questions about a number of topics, including renewable fuel standards, conservation practices for farmers, the banking industry and his position to not move forward with hearings for President Barack Obama’s supreme court justice nominee.

Recent reports allege Grassley hasn’t held open meetings in all of Iowa’s counties since 2011, KCII News asked him about these reports he explained he holds meetings in all of Iowa’s 99 counties annually, but not all of them are open town hall meetings. Grassley stated many are open, but he also visits businesses and speaks with employees or schools to speak with students and counts those toward his 99 county tour across the state. He explained his promise has been to visit each county each year, but not to always hold an open meeting in each one.

Grassley also visited Mt. Pleasant Thursday and has an open town meeting in Columbus Junction today at 3:15 p.m. in City Hall.