If Senator Grassley is typical, then God better bless America with Health Care Reform (video)

When Senator Charles GrassleyCharles Grassley (R-IA) held a town meeting in Waukon, Iowa on Tuesday, a constituent shared his family's personal struggle with the burden of high health care costs. Senator Grassley advised his constituent to "go work for the federal government" if he wanted quality insurance of the type senators receive.

Senator Grassley is the ranking member of the Senate's Finance Committee.

If Senator Grassley is typical, then God better bless America with health care reform, because it doesn't look like there's going to be much action coming out of Washington DC.

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My Rough Transcription of the Video Exchange (6/30/2009):

Constituent: I pay about thirty-seven hundred dollars a year for a thousand dollar deductible and five thousand maximum a filing. My question is, if I'm right on this, why is your insurance so much cheaper than my insurance and better than my insurance. I think that I should have the same insurance that you have...health insurance.

Voice: Senator Grassley?

Constituent: Am I right on that about how much you pay?

Grassley: Well, I can tell you what percentage I pay...I don't know...I pay 32%.

Constituent: 32%

Grassley: Of the cost, yes.

Constituent: Of the cost.

Grassley: And if you want a better insurance policy, go work for John Deere. They don't pay anything.

[BorderExplorer Note from 6/30/2009 news report in Quad City Times: "About 800 salaried Deere & Co. employees will be leaving the company as the result of a voluntary separation program connected to the recent consolidation of two of Deere's divisions." From 7/2/2009: "The latest unemployment rate in the Quad-Cities showed an increase to 6.9 percent for the month of May."]

Constituent: I'm asking you. I don't care about John Deere. I don't work for John Deere.

Grassley: I'm answering your question. I just answered it. So why did you yell at me, ‘Why didn't I answer your question?' I said I paid 32%.

Constituent: Okay.

Grassley: Who's next?

Same Constituent: How much deductible?

Grassley: I don't know that but I can get you that information but I don't carry it here [points to his head].

Another voice: Senator, I think you're on the same plan I am and its, I think its, we have a $250 deductible, a 20% copay, um...

Grassley (to constituent questioner): Why don't you go ask the people at the Farm Service Administration because we have the same plan that federal employees have.

Other voice: Right.

Constituent: OK.

Grassley: Go ahead.

Constituent: OK, how come I can't have the same thing you have?

Grassley: You can! Go work for the federal government.