Grassley: Bipartisanship On Health Care Likely Impossible

Senator Chuck Grassley, (R-Iowa), one of three key Republicans negotiating health care reform in the Senate, declared the prospects of getting a bipartisan bill effectively over during a conference call with reporters.

The Iowa Republican, who admitted on Sunday that he had perpetuated a myth that the Democratic health care package would allow the government to "pull the plug on grandma," blamed the impasse on the White House due to the inconsistency of its rhetoric.

"I don't think it's going to be possible to work it out with the administration because they're all over the field -- all over the ballpark, I guess, as we say," the Senator said, according to a transcript posted on his web page. "And, you know, one weekend, the secretary of HHS is saying you don't have to have a public option. The next day, the administration gets hit from the left, so the Obama says public option is still very, very important to them."

Grassley added that while he did "believe it's possible to reach an agreement" on health care, the political landscape had become so polarized that it was incredibly unlikely.

"I have to confess to you to be a little more cautious when I say that now, because I've been out here listening to my constituents," he said. "And if -- and if other members of Congress are hearing what I'm hearing, they're saying, 'Slow it down. Do it a little more carefully. Make sure you know what you're doing. And maybe do it even a little more incrementally."

The White House, to date, has never indicated that it is wiling to stop working with Grassley on health care reform, even after he insisted that government-assisted euthanasia programs were part of the House of Representative's legislation. But it's hard to imagine that the Iowa Republican's most recent comments go over well with the president.

Grassley isn't the only Senator to declare bi-partisanship out of reach on health care.

"Nobody is going to bring a bill before Christmas, and maybe not even then, if this ever happens," Senator Russ Feingold, (D-Wisc.) told a local crowd in Wisconsin earlier this week. "The divisions are so deep. I [have] never seen anything like that""

"We're headed in the direction of doing absolutely nothing, and I think that's unfortunate," the Senator added.

Comments

[DannyDanson]

Reconcilliation Senator Russ Feingold, (D-Wisc.) Reconcilliation

[kimbutgar]

Senator Grassley is not a man of honor.

[piadog]

He's a republican.
What more need be said?

[kimbutgar]

No sh#t sherlock. Grassley and his rethuglicans are doing the bidding of their corporate masters and fighting with everything thye got to keep Americans from getting quality affordable health care. I hope the people of Iowa remember his obstructionist ways when he seeks reelection in 2010. The rethuglican party is out of touch with the American people and the sooner they get voted out of office the better this country will be. I would rather have a libertarian elected than a rethuglican any day.

[KennyFox]

This is an old man, who is going to be dead within 10 years, 20 tops, while my then 28 year old daughter is starting out life in this big bad adult world, maybe unemployed, maybe self employed, and paying as much for health insurance as she does for rent, if not more. I have an idea...if these guys hate the entire idea behind socialized medicine, let's pull them off medicare when they retire. Let's remove their government health plan TODAY and let them give Blue Cross and Blue Shield $1,200 a month for similar coverage.

[Maygressive]

SO BASICALLY, I admit that I spread lies and misinformation about health care all over my home state but it's Obama's fault that it won't pass because of his "message"
I live in Iowa and and going to make a full time job out of putting Grassley out of his!!

[Ponderus]

Senator Kennedy will be remembered for making the world a better place...

what will you be remembered for, Senator Grassley...

and who will remember you?

[KennyFox]

Aetna and Blue Cross/Blue Shield will remember him. And a few Christians no doubt in Iowa who are so happy their senator is doing the lord's owork, protecting us from communism and nazism and all other isms that are bad. Cuz thats what jesus would do.

[Freesia2]

I just read Enzi's little gem from the Wyoming town hall where he was assuring his Republican robots that he was only staying in the meetings to block reform. To get as many things tossed out as possible. He seemed rather proud of himself.

There isn't going to be bipartisan. Can we move on now? Time's a wastin'.

[zenaby56]

The Republicans NEVER planned on bipartisanship. And actually, even if they don't vote for it, the bills have bipartisanship all over them because of all the compromises that have been included.

The GOP, the Grand Obstructionist Party.

[Grannysue]

Well dear old Grassbut wasn't interested in passing anything anyway just like the rest of the GOP, so forget about them, move forward and let them stay in the eighteenth century where they belong.

[Freesia2]

Would to heaven they had never left the past and they were simply in a chapter of history text books under "political parties that came and went". Now just an amusing anecdote to share with the kiddies about how great great great great great grandpa chased one of them off the porch with a rolled up newspaper during the election of 1800.

[armadillo]

Would someone please tell me why our president is letting people of this limited ability to kick him all over the street? He should be able to make them all appear to be the fools that they are.

Barack Obama is either a genius and has this worked out or he is being a fool of. Right now I'm leaning towards the later. What a waste of talent.

[Tom95134]

The passing of Ted Kennedy will become the cause around which all Democrats will rally to pass health care reform. Republicans have had their chance and have done nothing but obstruct the process. Now it's too late for them to get on board. Democrats alone (if necessary) will pass health care reform with a public option.

AND IN 2010 WE WILL REMEMBER WHICH OF THE REPUBLICANS STOOD IN THE WAY AND YOU WILL BE OUSTED FROM YOUR SEATS.

[AlwaysFair]

Excellent post and so accurate.

[jsgaetano]

A Republican just said something which is true.

That noise you hear is hell freezing over...

[roncraw]

Is this news to anyone?

[angrified]

Good! He wasn't interested in bipartisanship anyway. The repubs had the cahnce to enact a change in healthcare and they did nothing.

[DannyDanson]

over 180 GOP amendments accepted, but not one vote for the bill, whats up with that? sabotage?

[rextrek]

TAKE GRASSLEY'S & HIS FAMILIES FREE PUBLICALLY FUNDED HEALTH CARE AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let him BUY his own!

[BeauRadley]

Amen to that--