The Senate Finance Committee yesterday twice voted down the public option for their version of health insurance reform. Senator Chuck Grassley cast a NO vote both times.

“As if Iowans aren’t embarrassed enough by Sen. Chuck Grassley’s conduct in the health reform debate, our senior Senator has added two more reasons,” Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Michael Kiernan said.

“First, Grassley helped keep a public option out of the Senate Finance Committee health reform bill on Tuesday, denying tens of millions of Americans who don’t have health coverage the ability to buy an affordable policy.  Then, to explain his no vote,” Kiernan said, “Grassley gave the national press a real gem.”


“‘A government-run plan will ultimately force private insurers out of business. It will come to a single payer. That denies the American people choice.’  Grassley also added that the federal government would run the plan and run the market in which the plan competes.”(1) 


“Much to his home-state’s chagrin, Grassley has again played the “government-run” card and suggested the public option means a single-payer system.”

 
“That’s just plain false,” Kiernan said. “Apparently, the corporate health special interests that helped Grassley amass a war chest of $3.8 million this year are getting their money’s worth.” 


Kiernan said Grassley is using misinformation and outright falsehoods in the health reform debate, and should be ashamed.  “This is not the Iowa way of doing business.  It’s time for Chuck Grassley to step aside to make way for a Senator who will fight for Iowans’ best interests instead of cynically spewing the baseless rhetoric of corporate health special interests.”


Get the truth about the health care reform initiatives pending in Congress. Go to  barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/.

(1) CNN.com, Wednesday, September 30, 2009