Chuck Grassley: If You Want Good Health Insurance, Work For The Government (VIDEO)

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has a brilliant plan for fixing the health care system: If you want quality coverage, "go work for the Federal government."

At least, that was the answer that Grassley offered up at a town hall meeting in Waukon, Iowa on Tuesday after a constituent asked the senator why he is unable to find good, affordable health insurance like the kind senators get.

Despite the fact that Grassley himself enjoys the benefits of the federal government's excellent public insurance policy, the senator has been avocal opponent of including a public option in any health care plan.

Grassley's stance, incidentally, flies in the face of the opinions of his own Iowa constituents, a majority of whom say they would like to see a public health insurance option.

After sharing his family's personal struggle with the burden of high health care costs, an audience member asked, "My question is... why is your insurance so much cheaper than my insurance and so better than my insurance?"

The question made Grassley cranky.

He responded, first, by suggesting the questioner "go work for John Deere," since they "don't pay anything" for their insurance plan.

When the questioner refused to let the senator wriggle out of answering the question, Grassley revealed how little he knew about his own insurance plan.

Another audience member had to help the senator out by describing the details of the plan. After she finished, the original questioner again asked, "Okay, so how come I can't have the same thing you have?"

Grassley's response: "You can. Just go work for the Federal government."

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Comments

[spinns17]

more talk and less walk .just another bit of air blown up our a@@.

[Mike4Obama]

Insert foot into mouth.

[Imzadi]

So all Americans should be employees of the United States. Single Payer!!

[Michael Valentine]

As a retired state employee I have to say I have some great health care insurance. Momma always said, "Work for the government son, they will take care of you." Still shouldn't everyone have great health care insurance?

[just saying]

THANK YOU SENATOR GRASSLEY for speaking the truth on health care. Now that you've admitted it, now do something about it. No denying it now.

[Jerry Rubin]

This has been the question I have been wanting to ask for a long time. I think you need to either do 1 or to things now!

1). Spread this YouTube to everyone or
2). Have a resume form available to fill out for everyone to sent to every Senator, Congressperson, etc. to apply for a Fed. government job.

[thefooligan5]

This is brilliant. You couldn't have asked for a better result to that line of questioning and an activist would likely have failed where a regular joe suceeded unintentionally. So how quickly before we can put all americans on the federal government payroll?

[kctoad]

Classic condescending arrogance of a prig who has been a member of an exclusive club far too long. Do these Senators have a clue?

[katmeyster]

None, obviously. I want them to try a few years with my health insurance: Ibuprofen and denial.

[littlechuckie]

Looks like it may be time for a change in - Iowa.

Let's have those old duffers go out and find their own insurance and give them say - a $4,500 tax credit. Let them do the out-of-pocket until the credit arives next the next tax filing session. Bet they'd all be at the single payor table.

Our representatives are so out of touch!

[just saying]

What are you talking about?? He's IN touch - that is how you have to get good insurance right now. He's saying it while other congresspersons are dodging it...it's the TRUTH and you castigate him for it. I say Bravo Senator for saying it like it is...NOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? That is what we should be screaming about - NOT that he spoke the truth.

[IndelibleVoice]

When all is said and done, the GOP and powerful lobbyists will derail health-care reform. There will be no public option as so many Americans want, instead We the People will find mandatory insurance requirements -- much like car insurance -- and the promise of "subsidies for poor and many middle-class families" (i.e we pay a little, you pay the rest). Under the spell of health insurance lobbyists, this is already taking shape in Washington. No single pay, no universal and not a single politician listening to public outcry or concerned about public interest.

Senator Grassley obviously doesn't care where you get healthcare as long as his tax dollars don't contribute!

[IndelibleVoice]

Related stuff http://www.newser.com/article/d996ulcg0/under-a-senate-health-care-plan-you-pay-your-own-medical-insurance-premium-or-pay-a-fine.html******

[Skepticat]

About 40 years ago in Canada we had politicians opposed to universal health care. We voted them out over the next 5 years or so and replaced them with ones more receptive and now have had univeral health care for over 35 years. As you accurately said the senator - and many kindred spirits don't care about their constituents so why re-elect such people. You deserve better.

[IndelibleVoice]

Thank you. And your own struggle and success with universal care not only provide us Americans with a general road map, but also the courage and vision to continue fighting for it.

[MarcusT]

Be careful what you wish or. If Americans succeed in lowering pharmaceutical prices Canadians and others will have to make up for the subsidy.

[MarcusT]

"GOP and powerful lobbyists "

I suspect you are right about the outcome. But are you seriously unwilling to put responsibility on the administration or either majority in the congress?

[helonias]

Luke 14:12-14. "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and repayment come to you. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.­"

[noneIn2008]

That's where all the new jobs are. Better yet, if you want the ultimate health care plan become a congress person.

[wadda]

Despicably out of touch, as a previous post states.

Despicably out of touch.

[helonias]

And not even close to a christian

But he will go to church on Sun and pray real hard out loud

[Savanna]

We pay your insurance.­.does this mean that we work for the government. The logic of these rich well oiled folks always boggles the mind..of the ordinary person. And I might add there are not enough
jobs in government for all of us to work for the government­..unless we want to SOCIALIZE the whole country business and all. I wonder if he really thought though this ridiculous statement.

[1differentdrummer]

Another of his sage remarks was "If you save your money, you'll always have some." Well, not really.

[kjstjohn]

That statement is not likely to be true for a sick person with no insurance.

There is probably a method to Grassley's m@dness. It is likely a belief that people get what they deserve in life (including cancer) and that children deserve no better than what their parents can provide for them.

[BlackbirdHighway]

Uh, Sen Grassley, we don't work for the government, we just supply the money to pay the salaries of those who do, including you!