Sen. Grassley acting for his own self-interests

Shame on you, Sen. Chuck Grassley! You are up for re-election and so have been masquerading as a moderate in your position as a prominent member of the Senate Finance Committee that is drafting a health care reform bill.

But your recent actions reveal again your true identity as the most viciously partisan member of the Senate (outside of Oklahoma).

You knew that the House bill's counseling provision is innocent, an offer to pay the doctor's fee if family wishes counseling near the time of death of a loved one. Instead you chose to follow Sarah Palin in spreading the lie that the offer somehow creates death panels (“pulling the plug on Grandma”).

Everyone seems to have forgotten that you voted in favor of this same provision in the Medicare Prescription Drug bill of 2003.

Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman of the New York Times got it right in describing your behavior as despicable (but not surprising in view of the campaign money you have received from the insurance and health industries).

Sen. Grassley, you are no moderate.

Eugene and Susan Spaziani

Iowa City