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

[ljc]

Ok, Enough! We all need to e-mail the WH and demand they post all plans available to members of Congress. I want to know how much they pay, what the yearly deductibles are, what the co-pays are and what riders are avaiable. Also, if any member has a spouse that has insurance offered at their own job, than the spouse needs to get dumped off and pay for their own. Why should we taxpayers pay for family coverage?

[timetorevolt]

Huff Post investigative reporters should be able to get this informatio­n...Let's request HuffPost do this...

This will help make the argument against these hypocrites.

[Birdman]

It is already on the web somewhere just google it or go to the Senate and our house web pages

I believe it is all paid for they do not have to pay a nickle for anything.

[scbrcr]

I'm from Iowa and Old Chuck Knucklehead has never cared about what the people of Iowa would want. He just wants to hold on to those GOOD OLD REPUBLICAN VALUES. Even as our state had record flooding in 2008, All Chuck could worry about was getting fifty million in fed funds for a rain forest that NO one in the whole state wanted.

[timetorevolt]

sounds like it's time to put him in a nursing home. His government insurance will provide all the depends he needs.

[papa1893]

The Gov. Insurance will not pay for the depends. I know when I had my aunt in a nursing home it came out of our pockets. Then, You have to show income and you have to pay out of pocket to have care in a nursing home. Old man Chuck will never reveal his income. This is a ?? I have for these ignorant folks such as Ensign,Sta­nford,Gras­sley,Sessi­ons,turn coat Lieberman,Graham Etc. what do their wives have to say about these men that really are disrespectful and spew the hateful speech just like their leader Rush.

[ljc]

His arrogence should be used against him in either an ad for the public option or his re-election campaign. What a jerk.

[lazercat2008]

There is not enough healthcare for everybody. Some people are just going to have to do without. --Your Representative

[jbrantow]

Compassion­ate/conser­vative republicans. A true "christian" Keep the GOP out of power forever!

[PaxEterna]

Another self-serving smugger than thou Republican mouthing off like an idiot courtesy of the US taxpayer.

I say take back his benefits - NOW.

[LucieLee]

Grassley has proven yet again, that he is is an arrogant, belligerent old man. I think it is time for him to retire and put his health care he gets, to good use!

[lazercat2008]

How am I going to get my eight cat scan if they give insurance to part timers?

[Bronxdude]

Chuck Grassley should take advantage of the mental health benefit included in his plan. I sure that there is no preexisting wait for psychosis.

[Bronxdude]

In collusion with health insurance corporations, pharmaceutical manufactures, and physicians who regard healthcare as only a revenue stream, the Reagan deregulated, for-profit medical culture has methodically raped America, while complicit, unscrupulous, and self-serving republicans silenced by special interest and kick-backs acquiesce. Since obstructionistic republicans support the systematic plundering of the middleclass by ruthless corporations like UnitedHealthcare, this is why we need the government between the public and greed-driven, parasitic health insurance providers. Profit at the expense of human suffering is a republican engineered abomination. Forget bipartisanship; true not-for-profit reform will provide affordable and competitive options that include a public offering. Since Georgia is self-insured, state employees have no due process patient protection rights, which means UnitedHealthcare can deny medical care and authorize exorbitant copays and deductibles with no appeal oversight. Real, quality-driven reform will end the monopolistic strangle-hold enjoyed by morally bankrupt health insurance corporations. In Georgia, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare officials colluded with state republicans to eliminate Blue Cross and Blue Shield as a competitor, narrowing the slate of choices to two, with the end result being higher premiums, bigger profit, and reduced benefits. Mr. Obama: The health insurance industry (and the despicable republicans they bankroll) will not retreat quietly from billions in annual profits! I want the same public option Congress and the military enjoy. When compared to the average American, why do politicians live longer? Answer: universal health insurance. Real choice will end the single profiteer option extorting Americans.

[Bronxdude]

If competition is the lynchpin of capitalism, then let the greed-driven health insurance providers compete with the feds for my business. Limiting choice drives costs up, increasing profit for a select few, which is why republicans support the monopolistic advantage health insurance companies enjoy. Since obstructionistic republicans embrace the methodical pilfering of Americans by ruthless corporations like UnitedHealthcare, this is why we need the government between the public and parasitic health insurance providers. Through mendacious scare tactics, republicans distract and whip up baseless fear by cautioning Americans that reform will lead to rationed healthcare, with the end result being that the feds will come between the patient and their doctor. Contrary to specious talking points authored by self-serving republicans long on rhetoric and short on substance, as it stands right now, without true marketplace competition a public option will generate, unregulated health insurance companies dictate not only the cost of my healthcare, but how, when, and where I receive medical care. Republicans are bankrolled and controlled by the same health insurance industry they fought to deregulate, which is why they defend the extortion of the American public by these opportunistic companies. Historically, deregulation inspires corruption, which is the case in Georgia, where the Insurance Commissioner, an elected republican, is under investigation for receiving illegal contributions from the same health insurance providers he is tasked with regulating. The majority of Americans want a public option because the current system is rigged against them.

[Daxg1]

Then let them eat cake!

[bobtr900]

The good people of iowa deserve someone better than Grassley, don't we all.

[propitiousmoment]

So Iowa's going to be getting a new Senator, eh?

[canobserv]

he sounds flustered.­....flumox­ed........­and Very defensive.­..........­........Te­e Hee......L­OVIN IT

[DD1Prime]

Senator Grassley's remark is strong ammunition for advocates of the "public option" and health reform in general.

Wal-Mart switched sides to favor the "public option" and perhaps the GOP opposition to it is getting nervos that the tide is now against them. The Senator's remarks are grossly against his own interests no matter how you look at it.

The flippancy is remarkable given that he is a public employee, after all.

[Chaimirija]

I would think walmart switched sides due to the individual mandate

[dynwitch]

Wal-Mart doesn't favor the public option. They favor mandated health insurance, probably so they can start their own insurance company and force their own employees to buy it from them.

[Chaimirija]

There is something in the HELP bill about self-insur­ed's....