Grassley: Letter misrepresented position on health care

I write to let Tim O'Brien of Fayette (regarding his March 30 letter) know that I support prohibiting insurers from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. I spent most of last year trying to put together a bill that would set strong rules and regulations for private insurance, including banning annual and lifetime limits and not allowing insurers to cancel a policy once you get sick.

The effort for a bipartisan bill to achieve this reform and others with broad-based support was derailed by those who wanted to push through a $2.6 trillion health care bill that includes the biggest expansion of Medicaid in history, creates two new entitlement programs with the false promise that it can be funded by more than $500 billion in Medicare cuts and more than $500 billion in tax increases.

The Medicare cuts address Medicare's needs despite its fiscal troubles. The tax increases are job killers. And the bill's financing is riddled with budget gimmicks that mean more government spending than supporters admit today.

Separately, I never spoke of “death panels.” I gave Iowans information about unintended consequences with government health care programs when they are forced to ration care. I'm committed to informed dialogue and straight talk as part of the process of representative government. That includes identifying a false statement like the one made in Mr. O'Brien's letter.

Chuck Grassley

New Hartford

U.S. Senator