Grassley: We're Dropping End Of Life Counseling Because I've Helped Mislead People Into Thinking That's A Death Panel
Here's a new rule of thumb if you ever become a powerful senator: If you want to kill a provision in a bill, lie about it publicly, then tell everybody the measure is dead because it's widely misunderstood.
Yesterday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, told a crowd they were right to worry that Medicare reimbursement for end of life counseling by physicians might amount to euthanizing seniors. Today, he announces that the provision has been dropped because it "could be misinterpreted."
Late update: And, if that wasn't bad enough, Grassley's also patting himself on the back for delaying health care reform, which in turn created political space for the town hall disruptions.
Late late update: Here's more from Grassley: "Maybe others can defend a bill like the Pelosi bill that leaves major issues open to interpretation, but I can't," Grassley added.
Another way of putting this is that Grassley's shocked--shocked!--that anybody would write a bill that doesn't explicitly disavow death panels. In fact, all bills must clearly delineate that even their most antiseptic provisions aren't, in fact, secret passageways into death panels.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Brian
This is pretty funny, he's declared that a provision in a HOUSE bill is dead? Pretty arrogant for a Senator don't you think.
August 13, 2009 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you bother to follow any of the links, it becomes clear that he's talking about dropping it from the senate version that's coming out of his committee.
August 13, 2009 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, guess I should've add "Heh" to the end of that to help you understand. Also.
August 13, 2009 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what? It's the House version that is being referenced today, and all the other versions are political wankage.
Until the conference version comes out we are all arguing about something that doesn't yet exist. Heh.
August 13, 2009 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Once again, Exhibit A of a Republican who can't admit when they are wrong. Talk about insecure.
August 13, 2009 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tsk.
August 13, 2009 2:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
President Obama simply needs to say this as soon as possible.
"An amendmdnet offered to the health care bill by Senator Isakson has been used by some to argue there is a provision creating so called Death Panels that decide who among the elderly or ill get medical care. It there is such a provision in any health care reform bill I will veto it. There will be no Death Panel. Period. End of discussion."
August 13, 2009 5:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Grassley is such a horse's ass. Gives voice to the death panels lie then turns around and says he doesn't want people to be confused.
August 13, 2009 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
My thought exactly.
August 13, 2009 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
He should be ashamed.
This really represents the worst of politics.
August 13, 2009 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Grassley should be censored by the Senate for lying. He is purposely lying while accpeting $ millions from the lobbyists and health care PACS. Of course, we would need some dems in the Senate with some freakin balls!
August 13, 2009 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
While those who are not from Iowa will be ignored by the Senator's office, we are all entitled to contact the offices of the Senate Finance Committee. I encourage you to call them at:
202-224-4515
to express your opinion of their (a) failure to act effectively in developing a reform bill that includes a public option and (b) inclusion of a member who is lying to constituents about the contents of the advance planning consultations provision.
August 13, 2009 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
And so the Democrats gained... what exactly, by caving?
August 13, 2009 2:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't understand why you would want to remove an allegedly unpopular provision from a bill that you don't want to pass, thereby making the bill more popular. That said, I doubt that most Americans have any objection to the provision in the first place; it's only really unpopular among the relatively few but boisterous people who don't actually understand it.
August 13, 2009 2:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
They never cared about the provision one way or the other. This is a win for him because he's showing the Democrats who are boss.
You mention the idea the bill may be more popular now, because the allegedly popular provision was removed. Probably not. They can just continue claiming the provision is still in there (it is after all in the house bill), or latch on to some other provision that may or may not be in the bill and make that the new bugaboo. They didn't have to work very hard to make the end-of-life provisions allegedly unpopular, they won't have to work very hard to make next week's target unpopular either.
August 13, 2009 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shut down Circus Baucus NOW
August 13, 2009 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
so once again, good responsible policy loses out because shameless politicians have absolutely no hesitation to use flat-out LIES and disinformation to manipulate public opinion.
this doesn't bode well for the over-all bill because this proves that if you lie about something, you can kill it.
August 13, 2009 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Get Grassley away from the table and out of the room. No deals with a rat like him. Not now. Not ever.
August 13, 2009 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/8/9/84253/14846
August 13, 2009 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
A week or so ago a friend with severe diabetes went into a diabetic coma at his apartment. Discovered two days later, he was rushed to the hospital
If he hadn't had end of life counseling and a durable power in favor of his sister, he'd be hooked to a feeding tube indefinitely
Just saw him yesterday dying as he wished
Palin and that crowd aren't just comic clowns
They are dangerous and why anyone is giving Grassley and Enzi the time of day remains a mystery
Can hardly wait to see the final product of Circus Baucus - if ever
Not holding my breath..
August 13, 2009 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what this provision is still in the HELP committee bill.
August 13, 2009 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
But I thought Grassley was a good guy because he goes to his state fair and Obama doesn't--wasn't that Bluebell's line of thinking here a few weeks ago? Maybe he's dizzy from the merry-go-round. SO the Repugs want to revisit the Terry Schiavo fiasco? Bring it on.
August 13, 2009 3:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
The "pull yourself up by your bootstraps"..." I disdain big government programs", "we must cut government spending" farmer Grassley and his family received;
The Family of Senator Charles Grassley.
Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) has extensive farm interests, as do some members of his immediate family. Listing his home address as Arlington, Virginia, Grassley received $225,041 in USDA subsidies for corn and soybeans and disaster assistance between 1995 and 2005.[8]
In New Hartford, Iowa, Senator Grassley's son Robin has received $653,833 in subsidy payments, mostly for corn and soybeans.[9]
Patrick Grassley, the Senator's grandson, who also lives in New Hartford, received $5,964 in subsidies in 2005.[10]
http://www.heritage.org/research/agriculture/bg2045.cfm
And now we see he's a liar.
August 13, 2009 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
provided, however, that nothing herein may be construed to authorize or under any circumstances permit or fund, in whole or in part, the euthanasia of any natural born citizen of the United States
August 13, 2009 7:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
On April 25, 2008, Senator Grassley’s grandson VOTED for similar “end-of-life care” legislation in the Iowa Legislature
In 2008 the Iowa Legislature overwhelmingly approved House File 2539, a major health reform bill that was later signed into law by Governor Chet Culver. The legislation included several provisions to help seniors and their families make informed decisions with their end-of-life care.
Pat Grassley, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley’s grandson, represents Senator Grassley’s hometown of New Hartford in the Iowa House of Representatives. On April 25, 2008, Representative Pat Grassley voted with the majority, 93 to 3, to approve House File 2539. It also passed the Iowa Senate with a similar bipartisan majority of 37 to 6.
The Iowa bill can be found here.
http://iowahouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/bill-summ-house-health-care.pdf
August 14, 2009 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink