Chuck Grassley: No Way, No How, No Public Option

[marmar]

from ThinkProgress:



Grassley: In Order For Health Care To Be ‘Bipartisan, ‘We Need To Make Sure There Is No Public Option’

On MSNBC this morning, Norah O’Donnell asked Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, “what needs to be in” a health care reform bill “for it to be bipartisan.” After saying it needs to be paid for, Grassley declared, “We need to make sure that there’s no public option.” When O’Donnell double-checked that Grassley was saying that a public option was a dealbreaker for Republicans, he replied, “Absolutely.” Watch it: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/24/grassley-public-plan/


By claiming that a public option would destroy bipartisanship, Grassley is ignoring the preferences of a strong majority of Americans. Earlier this week, a New York Times/CBS News poll found that a public health insurance option (which would lower costs and improve quality) is supported by 72 percent of Americans, including 50 percent of Republicans.

Additionally, Grassley’s antipathy to a public plan flies in the face of his own constituents. In May, the Des Moines Register Iowa Poll found that 56 percent of Iowans support a public plan:

More than half of Iowans support a public health insurance plan, and almost half of the state’s residents who aren’t already insured say they would consider enrolling.

The Des Moines Register Iowa Poll, conducted March 30 to April 1 by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, showed 56 percent of Iowans support creation of a public plan, 37 percent oppose the idea and 7 percent are unsure.

During his press conference yesterday, President Obama indicated that a public option was not “non-negotiable.” In a meeting with Senators yesterday, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel reportedly said that the White House wants a “bipartisan” plan and is “open to alternatives” on the public plan.


http://thinkprogress.org/2009/06/24/grassley-public-plan/

[tridim]

1. Keep it up and his ass will be Grassley very soon.

[msongs]

2. TV ad i'd like to see on these guys...

your senator (pic of senator here) is against public options or socialized health care.
your senator gets free socialized health care at your expense.
your senator wants to keep you from having what he/she gets.
Your senator has a great health plan for him/herself...but for you
it's get sick and die.
call your senator today. (phone number)

Msongs

[SammyWinstonJack]

12. +1

:thumbsup:

[Cant trust em]

3. We need to hang the republicans by these poll numbers

The definitive example of the party of no.

[Arkana]

4. *WHAM*WHAM*WHAM*WHAM*WHAM*

That sound you hear is me slamming my head on my desk because Republicans are ridiculously apathetic concerning what their constituents really want and Democrats are just going to buckle to them once again because we have no stomach for a fight.

PUBLIC FUCKING OPTION.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. Grassley to Iowa: "Drop Dead." nt

[rucky]

10. literally, for thousands. n/t

[liberal N proud]

6. There are a large number of insurance companies with clearing houses

in Des Moines.

I smell kick back money!

[Wapsie B]

7. Time to go shovel shit Chuck. Ooops I guess you are.

[redqueen]

8. Healthcare activists in IA need to step up the pressure.

Start hammering this assclown harder, and don't forget to throw those numbers in his face.

[lindisfarne]

9. It's pretty amazing. IA is one of the rural states where there is essentially no competition for

health insurance - just 2 companies control over 80% of the market. Rates have gone up dramatically in the last decade.

IA has a high proportion of its population who need individual insurance or are employed by small businesses.

Iowans are highly educated.

But, there are some strongly anti-government folks, but not a majority.

Grassley won't go down over this. But a less powerful senator probably would. Some in the House may.

[JerseygirlCT]

11. Haven't we had enough openings from these guys now

to allow us to say "we tried, you weren't interested in anything bipartisan, so we're moving on without you"?

Sheesh. We've got 59 Dem senators, and I've read that Republicans like Snowe aren't necessarily opposed to a gov't option (IIRC). All we need is 51 - 50 really, and let Joe Biden break a tie. We need to wash our hands of those opposed to any reform and just get on with it!

[sutz12]

13. Be reasonable....do it MY way...

Typical Repub "bipartisanship."

:puke:

[otohara]

14. Another We Must Support Iranians, Fuck Off American's

GOP Senator. The protesters in Iran garner more respect than the 72% American's who want a public option.

[high density]

15. Can we please take away these Senators' health insurance?

They seem to exempt themselves from their own declarations and apparent anti-everything value system.

[Canuckistanian]

16. Ok, Senator, I assume you'll be voting no

Now STFU and let the people who are serious about this problem do their work.

[Bluzmann57]

17. Then the Dems should say the hell with bipartisanship

If that rotten bastard wants to play it like that, the Dems should just tell grassley that he is history and to kiss our collective asses. We have to find someone to run against him.

[Catshrink]

18. asswipe