The Register's observation that Senator Chuck Grassley has the power to get things done is correct ("Grassley's Clout the Only Hope," Jan. 8 editorial). Now if he only had some backbone.

He caved in when he tried to get Iowa up to the other states' rate for Medicare reimbursement, he didn't stand up to the drug companies when a Rube Goldberg drug plan was added to Medicare and he agreed to spend $50 million for trees in Coralville when that money should be used for better purposes. (emphasis supplied)

G. F. Castonguay,

Newton.