Chuck Grassley

Government Mandates – A Republican Idea

On March 26, 2010, in Health Care, National Politics, State Politics, by Mary Mancini

The individual health insurance mandate was constitutional before, you know, it wasn’t.

Just where was Senator Mae Beavers in 1993?

Watch this if only to see Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, who conceived the idea of the individual health insurance mandate, tap dance for Andrea Mitchell (at 4:06).

And let us not forget that the health insurance reform is not universal health care nor does it include a public option, it is an expansion of the private health insurance system we have now. Combine this with the mandate thing and Republican opposition seems even more absurd.

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UPDATE: More video of the “breathtaking cynicism” coming from Republicans in Washington:

Sen. Hatch (R-UT) says he once supported an individual mandate without knowing he did — simply as a tactic to stop the Clinton plan.

Tagged with: Chuck Grassley • Health Freedom Act • health insurance reform • Mae Beavers • Rachel Maddow • Tennessee

A Pre-Emptive Strike Against Diversity in Broadcasting

On August 19, 2009, in Liberate Your Radio from The Right, Media, by Mary Mancini

Well, the FCC won't let me be...

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is so afraid of losing the stranglehold he and his fellow right-wing ideologues have on talk radio that he’s willing to not only completely fabricate a controversy but also paint “scholarly writings,” “efforts to bring greater diversity to talk radio,” and the move to “ensure greater accountability in licensing,” as negatives.

You have to read the letter he sent to new FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski to believe it.

And before you comment, keep in mind that the airwaves are owned by us, the American people. That means they are also owned by people who don’t agree with you and that radio station owners who are entrusted with licenses have an obligation to present diverse ideas.

Tagged with: Chuck Grassley • Fairness Doctrine • FCC