American Morning
Grassley: Most don't want 'Obama-care'
Looking for a compromise on health care reform, the Senate's so-called Gang of Six, three Republicans and three Democrats will be meeting today. The six negotiators, who are also members of the Senate Finance Committee, will be considering a plan by the committee’s chairman to drop the public option and tax the priciest insurance plans.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/09/08/grassley.charles.art.jpg caption="Sen. Charles Grassley says the bipartisan approach to health care reform is the best."]
One member of the Gang of Six is Iowa Republican Senator Charles Grassley. He spoke to John Roberts on CNN’s “American Morning” Tuesday. Below is an edited transcript of the interview.
John Roberts: During the August recess, you said of the efforts to craft a bipartisan bill in the Senate, “I don't think it's going to be possible to work it out with the administration because they're all over the field.” Now that you're back there on Capitol Hill, are you going to walk away from this or are you going to stick with the Gang of Six and try to come up with a plan?
Grassley: Well, we won't know until we meet this afternoon at 2:30. … The good and bad of the president speaking this week is we’ve had to speed up the work of our group to have something ready. … And that's bad because we should have probably taken a little more time than just over this weekend. And then the other issue is that the president, if he does come out with specifics, probably would make up for that criticism that I gave during August that they were all over the ballpark. And they were all over the ballpark.
Roberts: Now, one of the proposals being floated – and it was handed to you over the weekend – is from Senator Max Baucus, the chairman of the committee. It has no public plan but non-profit co-ops that would provide insurance for people who are uninsured. It expands Medicaid eligibility as well, and then levies a fee on insurance companies who provide high-end Cadillac plans to help pay for the overall reform. Is that something that you can support?
Grassley: Well, one thing about the co-ops, if they're going to end up just the way we've known co-ops for 150 years in America, the answer is yes because they're consumer-driven and all the consumers benefit from it. They're organized by members. There's no federal government running the co-ops, etc. And that's the way that Senator Conrad has devised them and I've been discussing that with him and along the lines of what he suggested, it's very favorable. And just in case, that somebody comes along and wants a federal board, the federal government to accept risks so we end up with a health care Fannie Mae, then that would be a no-no for me.
In regard to the tax that you asked about, the only thing I would suggest is both Congressional Budget Office and the Joint Committee on Taxation has said that those costs will be passed on to the premium holders. So it's going to drive up the cost of insurance, maybe at a level of insurance that we shouldn't be subsidizing in the first place. But the case is that the extent to which consumers pay for it, that is a concern as opposed to if the corporations would have had to pay for it, the people providing the insurance, it probably would be a better approach.
Roberts: Senator, the president has this speech to a joint session of Congress tomorrow evening. He kind of laid down the groundwork for that in yesterday's speech to the AFL-CIO, in which he took on people like yourself who have been critical of his plans for health care. He said, “What are you going to do? What's your answer? What's your solution? And you know what? They don't have one.” The president charges you don’t have a solution. Let me ask you now, what is your solution to health care reform? What's your plan?
Grassley: Well, don't forget, I've been working the last three or four months with Senator Baucus one-on-one and then later with the Group of Six to come up with a bipartisan plan. And it seems to me that the bipartisan approach is the best. And if you look at the president during his campaign, he wanted to be post-partisan and it seems to me like those statements yesterday were very partisan, contrary to what he promised in the last campaign. But I would be working towards a bipartisan effort.
And if we don't get a bipartisan effort, then of course there are so many things in what I've been working towards that could easily go into my plan or a Republican plan and then don't forget there's already four Republican plans out there introduced by other members of our caucus. But because we're the minority party, you at CNN and other places haven't given our plans much publicity because I suppose we're in the minority and you want to help the president so much so that I hope that if we don't have a bipartisan plan, that you'll start giving some attention to the Republican plans that are out there.
Roberts: Well, I can assure you Senator Grassley, it's not our intention to help any politician, president, you, anyone else. We're just merely telling people what is out there and we will re-double our efforts to illuminate Republican plans.
Grassley: Thank you.
Roberts: You're up for re-election next year. You recently sent out a fundraising letter in which you said to your constituents, “We ask for your immediate support in helping me defeat Obama-care.” Ezra Klein from the Washington Post took a look at that and said, speaking of you, “He is creating a campaign premised on his role in stopping Obama's health care reform effort. It is not clear how he could pivot to save it, even if he wanted to do so.” Have you left yourself with this pre-election campaign, Senator, any room for compromise?
Grassley: Absolutely, yes. Because you know what Obama-care is in the public's minds, my constituents' minds? It's all that public option. It's all the eventual nationalization of health care in America, run entirely by the federal government. And that letter associates Obama-care with the public option and the people of my state and I think most of the people in this country don't want the government to take over federal health care.
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Yep, count me as another who doesn't want obama-care. That's just my personal philosophy – men need to "man-up" and take care of themselves instead of asking others (i.e., big government) to take care of them. Similary, women either need to get a job or get married to someone who can afford to provide health care for them.
The problem with the younger generation is that they are the by-product of the 60s and later generations, and have been indoctrinated to be weenies and the expectation that others will take care of them...
Each time I read and hear negative conversation about our President is saddens my soul. Until President Obama became president I was unware racism remain strong. I knew it still existed but not at the magnitude seen now. How can people declare this country a nation standing on godly principles with hate springing every where. Republicans wants their country back, I guess so. They are so torn with hate they rejected the President of this so called godly nation to speak hope into their children's lives. Well I know if Christ Jesus sat foot on earth the would taunt Him with hate. Maybe many do not realize to love one another shows we love God (1 John 4:7-12). This passage is powerful read it to see if God dwells inside you.
Peace
Here's an idea. No matter what plan they come up with, make sure it is fully funded from the start and not like Social Security where the next generation pays for the previous generation. If you say the taxes will be to high, then don't you think the taxes will be too high in the future also?
I notice people like to make the assumption that if you are in favor of Health Care Reform, then that means you are in favor of a public option. 2 different questions.
Both sides have made this so personal that few people can discuss it without offending someone. Martha and Tomal, that means both of you.
Seems pretty clear that Grassely is for reform (and is working on it) but against the public, federally funded, option. That is probably consistant with the majority of Americans. We need reform but not a government run plan. Medicare and medicaid is not financially viable and VA care sucks. Insurance companies need rules and mandates that allow more people to be covered.
Conservatives have put out a lot of ideas but they are not being put into the bills. The president needs to take over, take the best of everyone's ideas and also drop the public option at this time, because the majority of Americans don't want it. Not with our current massive deficits.
I find it embarassing that in this great country, which people are 'dying' to become a part of, we rank near the bottom in health care. It's disgusting that some operations here cost more than a car. Why should people have to sell their homes to afford cancer treatment? If other countries can find a way to make it work, why can't we. One word, P.A.C., Political Action Committees, ie lobbyists, creating constant conflict, forwarding their own personal agendas. Meanwhile, family after family in america is turned away from hospitals because they can't afford it. We cringe at all the soldiers lost in Iraq, but no one cares that one hundred times those deaths occur everyday because greedy hmo's and doctors refuse treatment. This system must be fixed, put partisan politics aside for once and do something worthwhile!
LOL @ "bankrupting the country"
$800B *over 10 years* is still cheaper than invading Iraq, not exactly going to bankrupt us.
Hey where is our Republican plan? What? There is no plan.
Here is a clue most Americans WANT plans like the rest of the 1st world nations have. Only Republicans who are making MILLIONS from insurance lobbys and the uneducated masses who listen to Rush and Beck think a public option is in some way a secret Communist plot.
Educated Americans know that the Republican plan is kill the middle class and poor.
Calvin, have you not done you own homework, if you would you would find that there are many Democrats that have received money from insurance companies so get off your soapbox, it is not a Democrat or Republican issue, but an American issue that we need to see all of the options being presented. I am not for a government run health care system, we have the VA system and it is in shambles, if they cannot run something that small, why would we want them to run all of the national health care system? There are many co-ops out there that work in other industries, electrical, farming to name a few.
@ sharonann Tomal we really do not care about your respect! You need to learn to respect a woman's choice!
To "sharonann Tomal" and your comment regarding "liberals" and their position on abortion.
Shame on YOU, for bringing up a topic that has nothing to do with the discussion at hand, this forum is in regard to healthcare reform, not abortion. With that being said, I'd like to see what you'd do if you were pregnant as a result of rape or incest. Until you walk in someone else's shoes, keep it to yourself.
It is time to either provide a solution, as the opposition, or to get out of the way. I am tired of the stalled politics, and fear the hate speech of the recent weeks. It is boorish and uninformed, and should be labeled as such. President Obama was elected with a clear and compelling majority. The previous administration did NOT reach out to the opposition, As I remember, those who disagreed were labeled as unpatriotic and not 'real Americans". Really, this has become ridiculous! Our country needs health insurance reform, and needs to get its fiscal house in order. If we can't work together, which apparently we can't, then it is time for those elected as a majority to act. We are fiddling while Rome is burning! It is time to act.
What are the four Republican plans you speak of Senator? Rather than make the normal Republican attack that the media somehow is slanted against you and will not report your brilliant solutions to the problem, you had the perfect opportunity to describe in detail the four plans. It is much easier to misinform and swiftboat the issue than to work in good faith in a bipartisan effort to tackle a problem that this country has to solve. It is also highly ironic that the Republicans are so concerned about bipartisanism when they are the minority party. They were no so concerned in 1994 or under the Bush administration. Senator, if you can't accept the principle of country before politics and country before ideology, do the country a favor and step aside.
The people who are against passing health care for everyone are the people who already have the best health care plans money can buy.
The poor people who can't afford health care don't even have a say in it.
The poor people want it, the rich don't. That should tell you how this country works.
Grassley, when you say "most" you are lying because "most" want a public option. Stop lying for the health insurance industry.
Grassley and his Republican "goon squad" should stop bearing false witness and do the right thing in their conservative lives for the good health of the cross section of the people of our great nation. GOPs stop playing petty, partisan, pathetic politics with the lives of uninsured millions of americans!!!!!!!!!!!!
All this nonsense about a 'government takeover' of healthcare is just another GOP lie, like death panels and grandma euthanasia.
The public option is just that – AN OPTION – one that many Americans won't want or need. Yes, it would reduce the number of people paying into private insurance. No, it wouldn't replace private insurance.
Start dealing in reality Republicans! We need healthcare reform now.
I totally agree that we pay to much for medical but we are going about this in the wrong way.
I am so tired of so many people wanting something for nothing. I have worked my whole life and paid my dues but I dont want the gov't to pay for my medical. WHAT EVERYONE CANT SEE IS THAT THE GOV'T CANT HANDLE THE CURRENT MEDICAL PROGRAMS THEY MANAGE (COBRA, MEDICARE/MEDICAD) SO WHY WOULD THE BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
Were do you think that all this money is coming from –THE PEOPLE WHO PAY TAXES, our country will go broke if we keep spending this money, it is my money but do I get a call on where its spent no but I have to pay for it in my taxes and if I dont I go to jail. THESE POLITITANs say our taxes wont go up but they are lying and doing the double talk it might not go up in 09 but the years after we ALL will be paying for it
Grassley's top five contributors:
Amgen Inc $33,300 $24,300 $9,000
Blue Cross/Blue Shield $26,750 $14,250 $12,500
Select Medical Corp $23,000 $23,000 $0
Occidental Petroleum $21,000 $11,000 $10,000
DaVita Inc $18,000 $8,000 $10,000
And top five Industries:
Health Professionals $222,406 $32,300 $190,106
Insurance $184,998 $32,600 $152,398
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $145,150 $47,950 $97,200
Lobbyists $137,846 $130,346 $7,500
Hospitals/Nursing Homes $137,337 $54,537 $82,800
Any more questions about his motivation?
Who has polled all the American people to find out who wants it and who doesn't . We already have socialized medicine with Medicaid, Medicare and HMOs and now PPO's. I guess the rich republicans just think that the middle class should continue to pay for everyone who doesn't have health insurance when they go into the hospital, we are now.
The republicans ought to come up with a plan for something. All they do is tell us the Presidents plan is wrong but we do not get specifics on exactly what is wrong.
Most republicans have the money to pay for health care so why would they want this new plan.
Let me make something quite clear, Mr. Grassley and the Republican militants and looneys, stirring up all this controversy do not speak for me. The bottom line is Republicans are angry about getting their behinds handed to them at the last election and they think by stirring up anti-Democratic rhetoric and protests that this will swing the pendulum back to their side. They wage their campaign on fear-mongering and hatred, just like their war against "illegal" immigrants. All they have done is show that their party is one of hate and devisiveness. President Obama is not perfect, but at least he is attempting something. He spent the early days of his administration having to reverse the idiotic decisions of the moron before him. We need to unify because as Abe Lincoln once said, "A house divided will fall.."
CNN and the rest of the media – why is there not a stronger dialogue in the media about how so many people who currently have a public option in medicare seem so deadset against a public option for the rest of America? Is there not a story there to be investigated? This seems decidely dis-ingenious as I think it unlikely that the reported 60% of seniors that don't want a public option would be willing on principal to drop medicare and go out and fund their own personal insurance.
He criticizes the media for not giving him a forum to discuss his plan, but when asked in this interview what is his plan, he doesn't answer the question. It appears his only plan is to take down any form of health care reform. To say that most people do not want health care reform is an outright lie!
Grassley's top five contributors:
Amgen Inc $33,300 $24,300 $9,000
Blue Cross/Blue Shield $26,750 $14,250 $12,500
Select Medical Corp $23,000 $23,000 $0
Occidental Petroleum $21,000 $11,000 $10,000
DaVita Inc $18,000 $8,000 $10,000
And top five Industries:
Health Professionals $222,406 $32,300 $190,106
Insurance $184,998 $32,600 $152,398
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products $145,150 $47,950 $97,200
Lobbyists $137,846 $130,346 $7,500
Hospitals/Nursing Homes $137,337 $54,537 $82,800
I think Grassley is thinking only of the political aspects and not the health of America. The recent economic meltdown has clearly demonstrated that the free market system does not work to provide essential services to all Americans and that the private business serves only those the business thinks worthwhile to serve. Therefore, governmental legislation and intervention are needed and essential for all Americans to have access to healthcare. Besides the public option is not giving government control of healthcare; only it provides an option to healthcare insurance.
The financial situation at the present time in healthcare is quite bad. Reforming healthcare will not increase the total "system" cost of healthcare; it will make it transparent and also help control it. It will also reappropriate it.
I do think the people in US senate and house of representatives need to think of Ameircans rather than their own parties on this issue. It is not Obama's plan, or demoratic plan or republican plan we are after; we are after developing and passing a healthcare plan that works for every American. For that to work, I do think we need to have a public healthcare insurance option to control costs and keep the private insurance sector on edge to perform well.
Senator Grassley, let all people have an affortable and appropriate healthcare insurance policy in place.
Why is it that this 'gang of six' only started working on a plan this past weekend? Hasn't this 'health care debate' been going on for months? Simply ridiculous.
The fact is that there's no such thing as "Obama-care". I expect the right-wing, gun & God crazies, the republican robots and the closeted KKK folks to be looking for a noose and a tree, but what floors me is hearing supposedly intelligent people use words like "indoctrination" and "socialism" and even the questioning of the nationality of the President. Are we really going to allow the hate-mongerers to dig up our recently-buried intolerance and prejudices against us to push their agenda of greed and separatism, and banish all intelligent reason? My, God, how can you sleep at night?
So, let me get this straight. Grassley is obviously completely against any kind of "public option," yet he has been designated as one of six members of Congress who have been asked to find a "compromise?" Hilarious. OBAMA: forget about bipartisanship; get rid of this gang of six nonsense; and push for something the majority of Americans want – a universal, single-payer healthcare system.
Sue in Chicago...do some research before you open your mouth and spout off stupdiity! I am in a coop...it's called Group Health Coop and it's great. My husband, myself and family are members and we provide the coverage for our employees as well. The coverage is much better than our previous high deductible, HSA plan.
I have some concerns with a government run option. 1. When has the government run anything efficiently. Why do many of you think they can do it with such a large task at hand? What you don't realize is that it will cost all of us a large amount of money. Last I checked the USA has trillions in debt thanks to this stimulus spending. It's truly just a bandaid on the problems.
2. Start with things that are broken...torte reform would be a great place to begin. Also, allow government to regulate the insurance companies.
I for one, having experienced a coop, find that it works well. My children get great care as do my husband and I. I have no complaints. Coops would allow people choice and keep health care in the hands of the people, not the government.
I have had health insurance all my working life. I'm 58 years old and have just recived my SSI for my disability and now have no insurance for me or my wife. My wife has just found a job as a medical assistant and in 90 days will qualify for health insurance at a cost of $392.00 every pay check for coverage for both of us for a policy that is a 60% / 40% coverage. I have to ask myself why does she want to work? I'm disabled and a diabetic and we need reform on health insurance. My question to our Senators and Congressman is why don't you give the American people the same insurance that you recieve for working for us> It's obvious that our represendatives are working for the Insurance lobbist. President Obama we do support your efforts and don't give up the fight.
Obama just wants to be able to provide proper health care to people who need it. Grassley and others like him are tryingscare everyone inot opposition. They all have their own political or financial interests at heart, not the good of their constituents. Its a shame.
Oh yes we do and YES WE CAN! We sure as hell don't want Grassleycare!
I want the public option at the minimum! I pay for insurance independently and pour money into the pockets of anthem Blue Cross.
I got sick last week and without healthcare, it took me like 7-8 days to get over whatever I had... Can't afford a doctor and pills!
It's only logical I want a government-run program... I can't afford anything else and they're not that bad. The US Postal Service hasn't lost a letter of mine in 20 years, so I look forward to my public option as should the people arguing against it. God forbid everyone share in something good yet affordable.
Grassley is just another of the do-nothing Republicans hoping that our country fails. His flip-flopping on working towards compromise shows his true colors and that he is part of the fringers that are now unfortunately the voice of the Republican Party.
Gary's comment is:
Sen Grassley my question you and your right hand men all say President Obama's plan won't work and the people don't want it. Can
you tell us what you think the American People want? Can you show us a plan you and all your 'Right Hand Men" have to present that is
better than President Obama's plan? If you do, I think the American
people would like to take a look, so we can say yes or no to you Sen.
Grassley. Everyone loves to say "NO" but not too many folks in our
Government have a plan.
Wall Street Journal poll says 76% of Americans want a public option. New York Times poll says 72% of Americans want a public option. National group of insurers poll says 83% of Americans want a public option. I think that Americans want a public option.
First, what has been discussed is not Obamacare. It's Congressional everything but the kitchen sink care. The White House has yet to send a bill to Congress. The current bills are bad, bad, bad. Too complicated and with too many pet projects in them. President Obama should send a bill to Congress and join in the debate in a constructive way. But the GOP needs to be constructive too. I still believe racism is behind a lot of the comments. The difference is, in the 1960s the racists knew they were racist. I think there are a lot of racists out there now who do not recognize their own bigotry. That is what has been behind the birthers and the He's a muslem movement. By the way, I'm an old white redneck woman, living in the country and armed to the teeth. I still vote Democratic.
Grassley has absolutely no interest in passing any health-care reform. Senator, you have had YEARS to get a plan ready for this time and you have nada. All you want is the current administration to fail so your party can return to power. I predict the rise of the independent candidate with no party affiliation is right around the corner.
When is your tee-time with the insurance CEO?
GOP AGAIN complaining about things no one proposed!
A Govt take over of healthcare? Why do they keep beating that drum?
NO ONE is proposing the govt "take over" heathcare!!!
Ol Man Grassley, ya old dinosaur... I'd like to pull the plug on your kind. You are the problem with the GOP
What america doesn't want is a corporations first, people last "Republicare" , meaning from a party that hasn't done squat with healthcare in the 30 years they have had power and has no interest in cutting into healthcare profits by one dollar.
GOP is the best representation corporations could buy. Who'se side are ya on anyways?
The billions that healthcare has spent on blocking or killing this deal only means higher premiums to make up for it. Think the CEO's will take a hit? Get real.
WE DON'T WANT IT!
THAT'S WHY WE VOTED FOR MCCAIN!
oh, wait.....
15 million(yes 15 million Americans) don't have anything. Tax cuts give nothing to someone who can't make ends meet as is, but only gives more to those who already have it all... and by the way the insurance companies have it all.
Quit the crap and come up with something that works and stop trying to run for your next office or score points for your party that has not only done nothing, but has worked harder against reform then you have for it, since the Clinton's tried to solve health care.
Do the real work for once and solve the problem.
I have never seen a more uneducated public in my life. People are only reading headlines and getting their information from talking heads. Most people don't even know what their saying no too. I would like to see a poll if people even really understand the facts. I think most people are just following the hype. America is becoming a mob and I know of one party that's happy with it.
It depends on whether you are speaking to a wingnut or not.
If people don't want the proposed health care, it's because they don't know what it is or entails. The reasons: a) they are too lazy to research it and b) because they're too lazy, they allow other people to spoon feed them their opinions and "facts". Too bad that the ones spoon feeding opinions to them have other agendas which have nothing to do with what's good for Americans. This is a case of pay now or pay a lot more later when it is a huge crisis. Ultimately, when this bill is either watered down or killed altogether, this country will get what it deserves – nothing for the American people but billions for the insurance industry and their flunkies in Congress. Unfortunately, it's the American way...
Most of the Republicans, Grassley speaks to don't want anything " labeled " Obama by all Republicans - and that goes for economic recovery as well. We don't care if the government and the country fails we just don't want change.
That is correct Calvin , how about we take the for-profit equasion out of the healthcare system , then you'll really see republicans and democrats running for cover , it's all about the dollar , your interest means nothing to most of them .......................
Most small business owners want a public option. Check the polls. It is our moral obligation to have basic health coverage for all. The health insurance exchange with the public option is a good way to contain costs. As someone earlier said, this is not a football game where you choose sides. That is why our political discourse has become so divided in this country and it is sad. People don't listen or what to learn.
We need health care reform badly and the republicans didn't do it while they had the chance. Health care premium increases are a huge TAX increase on small business and induviduals every year.
Republilcans don't like taxes but the still want status quo, which means tax increases every year on everyone.
Seems like Grassley is smoking to much grass. What is his major malfunction along with the repugnents. What a two faced lier. He cares more about his job that provides a quality governement helathcare plan, then the many families in need of quality healthcare. I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR A GOP MEMBER AGAIN, because of all the lies and deceptions against our president.
The issue is that the majority of people with insurance are happy with their insurance and don't want it messed with. Making radical changes to the way health care is provided is dangerous for any political party because if you screw it up for the people that already have insurance, you just lost the white house and both chambers of congress. That's why no meaningful changes have occurred even though this has been an issue for the last 50-60 years. Incremental changes should be identified and made to improve the system over time, and the fear mongering that's going on today by both parties should stop. Otherwise this could very well be a true catastrophe for the Liberals and everyone else.
Papadee, You are right on!
I find it rather amusing that the republicans are labeling healthcare reform "Obama-care". Obama can throw out ideas what he would like the healthcare reform to look like, HOWEVER, it’s the congresses job to write the bill, and Obama is just there to sign it into law. So instead of dismissing reform we need by calling it "Obama-care" why don’t they write up a bill (do their jobs) and the president can do his (sign it into law).
I would like to see the republicans stop with the scare tactics, and get on with this reform we need.
Again, just so everyone is on the same page, its congress that writes the laws, the president can submit a bill, but in the end, its congress that has the red pen. Get something passed, so Obama can sign it into law, and stop blaming the administration.
Senator "snake in the" Grassley, what are you gonna tell your mid 40's to baby boomer constituents when their insurance companies decides to drop them from coverage because of a pre-existing condition and don't bother telling the patient they did this? Because they will and they are doing this to hundreds of thousands of people already as is. Where's the Republican plan, the Republican alternative to healthcare reform? There is none snake in the Grassley because as usual the Republicans don't want to do anything to help struggling Americans, only to benefit their rogue and beleaguered party.
No, most don't want this idiotic crap to continue. Stop the lies.
It's funny that the republicans say that the president does not speek for most people ... but what makes them think that they do speak for most of us. I don;t necessarily agree with everything the president is doing, however I definatly DO NOT AGREE with the way the republicans are villifying him.
Get this Grassley .... YOU AND YOUR CRONIES DO NOT SPEAK FOR MOST OF US!
Most of you are the reason we are in this mess in the first place and your bahvior since the election has been childish and repugnant. Grow up and get over the fact that your feelings are hurt and put US the people who voted you in FIRST! Novell idea I know!
So how many Republican drafted plans have been put on the table? I believe the number is 4. Guess who's table they're on..... Madam Pelosi's. She has no intention of releasing them as possible alternatives to Obama care. OK Dems, your claims of "the other side has offered nothing" are debunked and proves Obama is lying. Wake up morons.
Check out the CNN poll, over 63 percent are happy with there current health care plan!!.
HANDS OFF MY HEALTH CARE!!! Dont sell me something I dont want. I also dont want to be FORCED to pay for the fat kid down the road. And dont tell my I will be forced to sign up for this socialist plan.
I want to be in control...
Just my .02.
Grassley made the remark "pull the plug on grandma" in reference to the Democrats Health Care reform proposal. Why does Grassley and the rest of the Republicans refuse to point out the FACT that the Health Insurance Companies have pulled the plug on hundreds of thousands of grandma's grandpa's, children, etc.by denying treatment and/or cancelling insurance on people that they have collected premiums on for years. Must be that the lobbyist's money is a great antibiotic for common sense.
So over the radical pro life peopel that all they can see are the "un born child.
You are so un christ like by not taking care of those that "walk amoung us" SHAME on your for NOT being a christian.
Shame on ANYONE who is AGAINST health care reform...This is what CHRIST would do!
"Or maybe it is the polling that shows that Americans don’t want socialized medicine."
Luckily we're not even considering socialized medicine then. Many people use the word socialism or socialist without knowing what it really means. Look it up in a dictionary rather than getting your rhetoric from Fox Entertainment.
Seriously, I wouldn't identify yourself as Mississippi Mike, you're only lending credence to the fact that southerners are unintelligent.
Hey Sharonann: Unlike Republicans, I have my own thoughts and I do not believe abortion is right. It is wrong and immoral. I don't walk lock-step in line with my party on all issues.
The issue now is health care. Grassley is pretending to be working towards a solution but he is just appeasing the selfish, ignorant right who believe that "I've got mine and I don't care how you get yours ".
Before you jump on the conservative line of "get off your butt & get a job", I have a job I've had for 22 years. I've got great benefits including health & dental coverage for myself & my family. Nobody GAVE me anything; I've worked hard for it. That doesn't mean I don't care about those who really try their best and still can't afford to go to a doctor, let alone a dentist. We should all care! I'm talking about the hard working Americans who have been screwed around by the big money insurance companies and now by our congress. for shame!
Yes, yes...shame on everyone who doesn't agree with your point of view.
You want government run health care so everyone who doesn't and everyone who voices the opinions of those who don't ABSOLUTELY MUST be in the pocket of insurance companies, because there's just no way an educated, free thinking person wouldn't agree with you on every issue pertinent to Americans, particularly this health care reform issue.
As a resident of the state of New York, I once fell on hard times and had to turn to the NYS government's Family Heath Plus insurance program.
A lack of doctors who accept it, second rate treatment from those who do, the government refusing to pay for certain higher cost perscriptions and their generic counterparts despite being medically necessary, and a bunch of underpaid desk jockeys cheerlessly "helping" me with my claims is what I got.
Thanks but no thanks. I'd rather COBRA than go through that nonsense again. Honestly being uninsured might be preferrable as well. "You get what you pay for" is a universal truth.
Having been through the Government Run Health Care system, I can say from a position of knowledge that the above referenced universal truth applies to health care also.
No. I'm sorry but the blind dismissal of different and dissenting opinions is called "IGNORANCE." Many of you need to mix in a mirror.
I have pretty good insurance myself, although my premiums DOUBLED from 2008-2009, and I have LESS Coverage!
We ALREADY pay for those that do not have health insurance but we pay for it in the most expensive way… via the emergency rooms. Big brother takes care of everyone across the world, but American’s are out right against helping those in their own country???? Unbelievable!
What a hypocrit! What I want to hear is any and I mean ANY alternative that the Republicans have come up with regarding healthcare reform. For Shame Senator Grassley!!
Mr. Grassley has been caught in out and out lies. He is a Republican and another one that said he will vote NO on healthcare. This man lines his pockets with gold from insurance and drug companies. He has absolutely no credibility.
Keep lining your pockets Mr. Grassley. 2010 will bring out all of his constituents and they will vote his traitorous rear out of Senate.
Grassley is a LIAR.
Grassly made a remark earlier about "pulling the plug on grandma" in reference to the Democrats Health Care reform b
J the Repudicans have no plan and you know it!
I want "Obama-care"! Right now I have "Health Insurance & Drug Companies-care" and it's killing me and my pocketbook!!!!!
This man should be ran out of Washington. He is a dangerous liar and yet he took an oath along with every other Congressional person to uphold the constitution and to respresent us not themselves. The president needs to learn one thing from George W and that is how to force your legislation through congress when you are compassionate about it! Push Health care with a strong Public Option through reconciliation now and shut the Grassleys adn Limbaughs and Newts up!
Senator Grassley is absolutely right, we, the people do not want a Nationalized health care program. The problem seems to be that so many think they will get something for free–Well open your eyes and ears people, nothing comes for free!!
"it’s not our intention to help any politician, president, you, anyone else. "
Its no their intention but actions that help a specific politician and a specific party. People be informed.
Sharonann: The topic was health care. There is enough blame to go around on all topics but the current one is where Grassley pretends to be participating and in reality he is a lying coward.
I do not believe it is right to kill the unborn and it is wrong in my eyes. Not all Democrats are cut from the same cloth (as in the Republicans who have to walk lock-step in line with the rest or else they are put down as weak by Limbaugh – where they then have to apologize to the great windbag).
Again, Sharonann, keep up. The topic was and is health care for the poor.
Living in Iowa, this old geezer needs to pack it in. Moderate my a**. Same old right wing verbiage.
It is a shame, because he now has to fear his own party. They have threatened him with a primary challenge from a right winger if he dares to try and get any health care reform through. He is trying to "thread the needle" too, just like Obama is doing. I actually feel for both of them, and am praying we can find middle ground and start the process. The biggest obstacle is actually the idea that it has to be perfect and complete before anything can be passed. That is crazy, and the opposite of how it should work. We should be open to incremental reform, and make it better as time and experience shows one thing or another is not working as well as it should. PLEASE, let's get out of this "stay the course" mentality. We need to be flexible and adaptible, if we want to be a leadership country in the 21st century.
Grassley is telling us Obama has not laid out his plan, then that the people are against that plan. The misinformed people do not want what they were lied to was in the Obama plan. Medicare recipients are scared to death of their health care being rationed or death panels – lies spread by those who were against the medicare (governemnt plan) in the first place and remain against it even today. What we need is more education.
Most Americans want public option we just really need to start speaking up.
Who is he to speak and say what the rest of us want....That old Goat needs to just shut up. We want a public option, the same kind of insurance that the old Grassley have.
When will America stop thinking this is just one big football game where you pick sides and never look at the issue again? Republicans are bought and paid for by the insurance companies who need to get about tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of you suckers to pay premiums so the stockholders and CEO's can make millions? Take that profit out of it and suddenly you have an option that can actually show where its premiums go and how much is in reserve for future claims. With the current batch of blood sucking insurance companies, you get lies, scare tactics and the whole assortment of smoke and mirrors with a few senators thrown in to dress it up.
Why is is that Politician like Grassley and others have selective amnesia. He pooped from one side of his mount and eat with other side. He was just asked a simple question by Roberts, what are you going to do? he has no clue. Rather he is pointing to work he has been secretly planning to defeat with Senator Baucus.
This is going to be very bad for the Republicans very soon. They have been hiding under bipartisanship to excrete nonsense. If they know that the Obamacare is bad for the country, while not come out with their own plan, and let the country compare. Their only solutions to every problem of this country viz: School, health care, immigration, financial regulations, gun control, infrastructure update, consumer protection, carbon trade, energy, homelessness, war etc. is TAX CUT, it is a shame!
Until people have read T.R. Reid's book Healing of America and understand that there are four health care systems used by the 40 most developed countries then the conversation cannot even begin.
Do you know the pros/cons of: The Bismarck Model, The Beveridge Model, The National Health Insurance Model or The Out-of-Pocket model?
Do you know that the US uses all of these models yet for different groups of people?
Do you know that the US is the only developed country that permits health care to be for-profit?
Do you know that 'competition' and 'private insurance, doctors and hospitals' can still be part of a health care system without it being 'market driven?'
Do you know that the US is the only developed country that does not provide: universal coverage, portability and comprehensive care?
Do you know that the very best health care system (determined by WHO) is a 'private industry' health system?
If you don't know these things then you, like most Americans (including Congress) does not either. First we must become informed, then we must discuss then we must decide.
The issue at the core of any discussion is this: Is health care a 'right' in the USA?
i meant that there are 1300 health insurance companies. sorry my bad.
Hey Martha does that warning from Jesus include the killing of unborn children which you and your fellow liberals love to do. Oh that's right, you call it "choice". Seems to me the only ones that don't have a choice in the matter but pay the ultimate are the unborn. They pay with their lives. So Martha before you cast the stone from the republicans' eyes, you'd better cast the boulder from your own. So long as you liberals continue to be pro abortion-you will never get any respect from me when you quote Jesus. Shame on you.
Its not a matter of who wants it. Its a matter of bankrupting the country. Wake up morons! Health care will be the last thing on your mind!
Hes right about the many republican plans out there. I watch c-span and while find it boring I like hearing what our reps have to say straight from their mouths and complete with pictures and graphs, facts and numbers and research. No news organization can beat that as far as telling the truth to the public goes. I have heard the plans and I like the one where insurance would be made avaiable across all states. right now i can only choose from 6 in sc butthere are over 14300 health insurance companies and so i want to truly be able to choose. I also like the idea of tort reform. I also like how it was explained that we, as a nation, can do just a few fixes at a time and do not have to scrap the entire sytem and start all over with something new called the public option. its a shame that only half the country gets to hear half of whats out there. people need to look and they will see that there are plans out there. Obama knows that the republicans have plans out there (4 of them i think) but he is trusting that his supporters are too stupid to beleive that there is anything but his plan.
Last I knew Grassley was getting over 2 million dollars from Insurance and Pharmicutical interests for his re-election bid.
Also from the last polls over 60% of Iowans want health care reform. The wingnuts he brings into his little town meeting shows may have a different spin but that's just manufactured for the press.
Time for Chuck to go back to the farm, he no longer represents the people who voted him into office.
Remember this is one of the first people to start the talk of "death panels" and "pulling the plug on Grandma" propoganda that has been spread by the insurance companies to scare people.
Grassley, you do not fool me, you could care less about what happens to hard working Americans, all you care about is big cooperations like the Insurance industry. And making your rich greedy buddies richer off the hands of the poor.
I'm amazed that anyone believes Grassley and Enzi's smarmy act. Obviously they were never negotiating in earnest. It's the typical GOP subterfuge: divide people, thwart reform, and then say it's because the Democrats weren't cooperative. The GOP's dishonor is an American tragedy.
To Rick McDaniel: you may be correct that the people don't want the public option – ONLY BECAUSE of the lies and propaganda spread by the people that will not accept our Black President!
Let's face it: No matter what President Obama proposes, the same ignorant and racist people will say no – because it just might work.
Pulling the plug on grandma? That is already happening! do your homework!
I want Congress to fix healthcare access for the 34-50 million who do not have it. I want Congress to target healthcare cost (tort reform, tutition assistance with payback for some students, and government invest in high-risk phramacutical and medical technology research as a minimum). What I don't want is the government trying to run healthcare. I also want the pudits to quit comparing other countries healthcare costs with the US. Doctors in these countries (France and Switzerland in particular) earn around $50,000 year not like U.S. where a GP earns an average of $200,00 a year or a speicialist earns $600,000 a year. Come on how about some truth in comparison? Let's get real and dump this Democratic attempt to buy votes and get a serious look at providing access for all, decrease the costs where possible, and finally to keep government from running the process and removing competition where compeition is goo.
I hope Roberts and the CNN crew hold fast to the promise made to illuminate the Republican health care plans if the bipartisan plan does not come to fruition. All I seem to hear on their news programs is how the Republicans are holding everything up while never have any solutions or ideas. The truth is that this information is being suppressed by much of the media.
Does anyone know of a co-op that actually exists? The answer would be NO! And Senator Grassley can't name one either. They don't exist because they don't work! Just more BS from the right.
Grassley does not care about whats right or wrong. All he care about is " lets not let President Obama win at anything" this may be bad for us (the republicans), lets just forget about the people. May GOD be with you all!
What gave that away? Was it the tea parties, the protests, the letters to senators or the town halls? Or maybe it is the polling that shows that Americans don't want socialized medicine. At least someone who makes laws is finally starting to realize that the last thing we want is more government and higher taxes.
Grassley & others in office who's main concern is re-election:
You should be concerned with only one Higher Power! Remember the words of Jesus when he said that whatever you do to the least of men (the poor, the sick, the underemployed), then that is being done to Me."
Shame on the Republicans and the "status quo" Democrats.
I think he needs to stop talking – every time he talks he says he contracdicts himself. I think the old age has gotten to him. Besides there is no Republican Statesman left! Why should he be?
Shame on all of you that have no heart and only money speaks to you!
Yes, Republicans, YOU! Are you listening?
Wonder how much Grassley gets in Health Insurance lobby contributions?
Just another frightened politician. How much money has he received from health insurance companies?
That is correct. The majority do not want this plan.
double talk that's all it is, Grassley is only interested in keeping his job not the people he respresents