take republican senator chuck grassley of iowa.original member of the senate finance committee's gang of six. despite his insistence over the summer that reform would lead to the government killing old people, despite his railing against obama-care in fund-raising letters to his constituents, senator grassley was pretty certain, he said, of one thing. he said that the idea of an individual mandate forcing every american to buy health insurance, he thought that was a pretty darn good idea. >> i think individual mandates are going to have to be accepted by a vast majority of people in congress. i believe that there is a bipartisan consensus to have individual mandates. >> a bipartisan consensus to have individual mandates. i'll support that. now, same senator. >> another area of concern is the individual mandate to purchase coverage. i've been increasingly concerned with the intrusion of -- into private lives that the individual mandate represents. >> what happened to the bipartisan consensus? you didn't even have consensus with your

when he's calling chuck grassley out for death panel talk?not have a government program that determines you're going to pull the plug on grandma. we should not have a government plan that determines you're going to pull the plug on grandma. we should not have a government program that determines you're going to pull the plug on grandma. >> all right. for more i want to be joined by our panel tonight. laura flynn, author of "blue grit" and host of bluegrit tv.com. michael, also with us, talk show host. michael, how can mr. grassley say something like that in iowa and come inside the beltway and say that to capitol hill reporters and put it on the president? i need definition. i need clarification here from a conservative here, michael. take me down this road tonight. >> please don't ask me to explain the mind of chuck grassley. i think he's a good guy. however, remember, this is the same guy who said about the wall street executives they should follow the example of the japanese and kill themselves when it was exposed that they were taking the

grassley's up for re-election in iowa in 2010.e's sort of popular, but not nearly as popular as he was. he's looking over his shoulder at his own right wing. that's what's happening with him, that's what's happening with all the other republicans on that committee. >> let me ask you about something that happened in the house. house minority whip er eric can says health care is taking up too much time in congress, that we can't get anything else done. is there something else that republicans want to be working on? >> no. that was kind of a silly statement by cantor. republicans would love to take all the rest of the year on health care as they try to kill it. and don't have a big urgent agenda of their own that they're trying to pursue. they just don't. they basically with a few small glimmers of exception been in opposition and slowed down in opposed mode using every tool at their disposal, both rhetorical and procedural, that's what barack obama and the democrats are facing. >> let me ask you a big picture strategy question that

that was senator grassley at home in iowa. will the real senator grassley please stand up? the republican rhetoric about the president and the insurance reform has been absolutely disgusting. now, the suggestion that the president's tone has been anything like that is absolutely absurd. but grassley was honest about one thing -- >> i've been very candid with the president of the united states, face-to-face. like when he asked me would i support a bill, a bill if there was three republicans and 58 democrats and i said that's not a bipartisan bill. >> there it is, that's the bot tome line. there's no way the party of waterloo will vote for reform to help this president succeed. democrats, wake up. today, the president once again offered tough talk about his critics. >> i've heard a lot of republicans say they want to kill obama care. some may even raise money off it. but when you ask these folks what exactly my plan does, they've got it all wrong. when you ask them what their solution is, it amounts to the same old, same old. ly not accept the status quo as a solution. not no

and i don't think that's a package that very many republicans are going to support, but senator grassley and senator enzi can speak for themselves. bret: after eight months of work, senate finance committee chairman max baucus still lacks a single g.o.p. vote for his plan. here is what the plan looks like, as we have reported tonight. $880 billion mandates individual insurance coverage, excludes a government insurance option, that's a public option, and also includes government-initiated non-profit co-ops instead of the public option, blocks illegal immigrants with i.d. vair fik, blocks federal funds for abortion and reforms and reduces medical malpractice lawsuits in some form. we're back with our panel. those are the bullet points. steve. >> well, i think what we saw today is pretty much what we expected from plasm baucus. it's a far more specific set of policy priorities than the president had laid out to this point, and i'd say it's far more honest. you have, i think, on the plus side for democrats or for at least max baucus, the congressional budget office, as carl cameron reported,

republicans, led by ranking member chuck grassley, raised a number of options.of course, their objection in principle to any program run by the government. which mr. grassley tried to explain does not mean they oppose popular government health care programs like medicare. >> i just would like to know what you think of medicare, a government-run program that's far more government-run than what senator rockefeller has proposed. do you think medicare is a good program? because most of the amendments on the other side have been aimed at preserving medicare, a government-run program? >> i think that medicare is part of the social fabric of america. after 40 years, just like social security is, and i don't say that because it's perfect. there are a lot of things that need to be changed and a lot of the things in this legislation are changing a lot of things that's wrong with medicare, and -- and to say that i support it is not to say that it's the best system that it can be. >> but it is a government-run plan, is that right? >> it is a government-run plan. >> republic

including charles grassley and olympia snowe, have not signed on to this. they have signaled that they may not, and as a consequence of that, the absence of republican votes prompted senate majority leader harry reid today to say that they could use a tool called reconciliation to get it through with 51 votes. here is how he put it. >> i hope that we do not have to do this. but if we can net -- cannot get 60 votes, we would have no choice but to do reconciliation. i strongly favor the bipartisan approach. >> that is what they all say, that they favor a bipartisan approach. but right now, reconciliation would really and republicans. -- really anger republicans. even some democrats do not like it. shepard: why bother with a compromise? >> now begins the problem with democrats, who are expressing misgivings over the cost of

a member of the gang of six is montana senator chuck grassley. sorry, iowa senator chuck grassley.ry. he's going to join us in our 7:30 half hour to talk more about this idea of baucus's plan and why it might fly with republicans. senator grassley, who conducked town hall meetings in 30 counties in the great state of iowa will be with us in about 20 minutes or so. >> in the meantime, it's back to school day for many kids across the country. at noon eastern today, a lot of them will be putting down pens and pencils and listening to a pep talk from the president of the united states. it's a speech that drew fire days before anyone actually saw it. and now, almost everyone seems to have an opinion about it, whether they have kids or not. here is a little bit of what you were saying. >> well, i think that's a good idea, to talk to the children, because they need to know that it is their responsibility because apparently a lot of the parents are not taking the responsibility. >> we're going to be seeing posters of his face all over the buildings and that kids are going to be having embl

despite what chuck grassley said in an interview this morning.hite house to reach out to republicans tomorrow night? >> reporter: i don't know if you're going to hear him reach out to republicans. advisers say to me, look, the number one audience for the speech tomorrow night is not members of congress, not democrats, congressional democrats or congressional republicans. it is the american people. they're trying to lay is out in layman's terms what the president's plan is and that that will be another result of the speech is that it will be -- if they're successful then, you know, joe and jane in kansas city will be able to say what the president's plan is whether they agree with it or not. they want to go that next sthep and be able to convince joe and jane the president's plan is the best plan moving forward. that said, i think what we're seeing, though, is a lot of maneuvering going on, right? you have the president right now still tweaking his speech. at the same time you have max baucus trying to make sure he's not irrelevant to the process

will you vote for it if you're the only republican because senator grassley, another key republican, said he's not going to vote for it if he has to be the only republican. it has to be a broader plan than that. would you be will to go vote if you're the only republican that's for this? >> i'm focusing on getting the best strategy so we can maximize the support among republicans and democrats and of course the american people. we're working mightly within this group of six. the only bipartisan effort i might add in either committee of the house or senate that's working for the more than three months to exhaust i havely examine all the issues. we debate the issues not political philosophies. frankly we have to take the time to do that. that's what the american people expect us to do. i view time as an ally not as an enemy so we can build that spor. that's the key here. i want to be able to craft the very best policy for access, affordability and addressing costs both to the consumer and to the government. >> schieffer: would you vote for a bill that you believed in. >> i'll do what's

meanwhile, chuck grassley said don't blame him for the whole pull the plug on grandma panic.. >> well, there's another political leader higher up in the hierarchy that used that than i did. and then "the washington post" or some newspaper said something later on about sarah palin. well, sarah palin said that presumably before i said it about the death boards, but i never used the word. >> and yes, it gets better. if you would like to discuss the death panels with the governor with say a nice glass of piano grigio or mountain dew, the first family is offering a din are for five with the governor and first dude. it will benefit an auction called ride to recovery, a program that helps wounded soldiers. the opening sbid $25,000. organizers say the winner will most likely have to transport themselves to and from alaska to participate with dinner with the palins, but as the listing on ebay reminds us, the value is priceless. joining me now, alaska radio host, contributor to "the huffington post, shannyn moore." >> good evening, keith. >> i should bid. what would happen if i won? >>

pull the plug on grandma grassley speaks. >> well, sarah palin said that presumably before i said it about the death boards, but i never used the word. >> plus, $25,000 to charity for dinner with sarah and todd? i should bid, right? all that and more now on "countdown." >> thanks, but no thanks. >>> good evening from new york. despite the right's passionate attempt to stop him, today president obama pulled it off. in our fifth story on the "countdown" tonight, the president beamed his words and images directly into the class roomgs and thus the minds of america's 60 million defenseless schoolchildren. they were instantly assimilated into the board collective. i'm sorry, i meant instantly indoctrinated. i mean, i'm sorry, i meant instantly aware that wasn't spider-man talking. the speech worked so well, some grown-ups were indoctrinated, republican grown-ups even. former house speaker gingrich after reading obama's speech over a nice, refreshing glass of kool-aid said, quote, it's a good speech. i recommend it to everybody if you have any doubts. laura bush, former teacher, michelle m

that includes my next guest, and chuck grassley -- grassley -- , chuck grassley.e comes the big day and you are nowhere to be found. why did you choose to stay away when the announcement came? >> we have not reached an agreement. we had made little agreements, but not agreement on some controversial things, and without having a complete agreement, i could not be there, other republicans could not be there. let's suppose, even if we had reached an agreement, do you know the situation would have been a real determinant whether or not by and other republicans would have been there? in july we sat down with democratic leadership in the senate. i even spoke to the president about some of these things. what bill when they sign? if i reach a bipartisan agreement, all would want to make sure that was not carved up by the house or by merging with senator kennedy's bill, which came out in a partisan way, and we could never get an answer from anybody on what we call end game. we want to know that our agreement would not be dissected hundreds of times between now and when it

with senator grassley here, i might note senator grassley was my chief co-sponsor on that piece of legislation. made sure we got it voted on the floor. it was applauded when it was signed into law by the president. so i applaud the department for its commitment to reducing waste and excess of the health care system. i thank the director for coming here and once again i thank the hard-working men and women of the fbi. i look forward to your testimony. senator sessions, you wish to say something? >> thank you, mr. chairman. thank you director mueller. not often enough in our country do we have people holding positions for which their background and learning and experience equip them for exceptionally well. i believe you are one of the most capable leaders we have in our country. you are utterly experienced in the matters you work with every day. i thank you and all the agents that work tirelessly to make sure we are not subject to another attack in our country. i know a lot of us were amazed last month when abmeghri, thank you for speaking that this was an unconscionable and unacceptable decisio

senator chuck grassley and made public just yesterday, chuck. he has written it a while ago and she is supposed to be part of the group from both sides of the aisle bringing this. the letter in part set the record straight on my firm and on waivering opposition to government-run health care. is the government ready to give up on bipartisanship? >> one of the other three republicans in this, you know, they want to be kicked out of the bipartisan talks. not good politics for them in their home state. at the same time, the white house doesn't want to kick them out because they want to say, no, no, no, they want the republicans to quit the bipartisan talk. a little bit of a game of chicken. neither side wants to take the blame for ending the so-called bipartisan negotiations. i don't think you'll see them ever officially end, you'll see at some point the finance committee will come out with a bill and grassley andensely. he is in a box, he's up for re-election in 2010. he has admitted it. where he was in his head august 3rd versus where he was exper

i asked senator grassley that a few hours ago. he told me that he hopes these three democrats and these two other republicans he's been meeting with that they can strike a bipartisan deal before president obama's health care speech tomorrow night. he said the time line is not ideal. he would like to have more time. he understands this is what senator baucus wants to do. he said he's hopeful but really you know how it is with this. we'll wait and see. this committee has missed some deadlines. we're waiting to see what comes out of this meeting today. >> the baucus proposal, does it also expand medicaid, health insurance to the poor? >> it does. right now medicaid covers children up to 5 and pregnant women who are either below the poverty line or one-third above the poverty line. this proposal would expand it so it would cover everyone up to one-third above the poverty level so that would mean more children and that would mean poor adults who do not have children and the question of how do you pay for this? in part there's a new tax

senator grassley suggesting this be paid for with money not paid out of the stimulus act. the same stimulus act he voted against. the proposed offset from man who believed in march a three-year spending freeze would be the best way to fix our economy otherwise known as the depression express route. in one of their amendments, a proposal of inclusion of puerto rico and territories in the exchange. who would like to be in charge of explaining to congressman joe "the heckler" wilson that they are part of the united states. you don't even need a passport to get into them. president obama discussing health care on all of the key talk shows. he said republicans have made a political decision to oppose his plan. on "meet the press" he said there's agreement on 80% that's been proposed and tonight with david letterman, part of what is fueling right wing rage in this debate is race. >> first of all, i think it's important to realize i was actually black before the election. >> really? >> this is true. this is true. >> how long have you been a black man? >> so the american people i

. >> senator grassley. >> well, first of all, you ought to know that if they're going to be involved in that deal, they are not going to do it, so i am cynical about any deal, and as a member of the group of six, i maybe ought to make it clear that i as not at any table when any negotiations were made with pharma. i hope you understand that, and i would also like people to have a little patience with me because i did not say much tuesday night when this was debated, and i was not mad at anybody. i raised my voice. that is just the way i get sometimes, but i would go into some detail, and i would ask the senators from west virginia and florida to pay some attention to what i have to say, but i am surely glad we are revisiting this issue because i think some things need to be cleared up. first, everyone should recognize that political opponents of the drug benefit have tried to tear the benefit apart since day 15 or six years ago. these naysayers want a government-run benefit with the federal government dictating drug prices. thankfully, for the benefit of seniors, the naysayers have l

i think senator grassley and senator endsly have stated more substantial objections to what has been proposed. i don't know where they'll finally come out. >> is it worth getting passed, to your mind, without bipartisan support? >> oh, i think that the reform proposals that we're talking about here are very important to try to get enacted. i would prefer to see it done on a bipartisan basis. if that's not possible, i think clearly we need to see if the votes are there on the democratic side to enact this legislation or some major part of it. >> that raises serious questions, given all that we've seen take place in these crazy town halls over the summer. the issues you raise now about getting democratic support, is that a foregone conclusion? >> no, i would say nothing is a foregone conclusion in this process. i do think that most democrats are trying to work with the president to see if legislation can be enacted that accomplishes the major goals that he's set out. now, the details of this bill or any bill people have not signed on to yet, people have not had to commit themselves to

plus health care with senator chuck grassley of iowa.ean, he's right in the -- not that the republicans are in the driver's seat, but he's in the driver's seat for republicans. he's one of a gang of six. he'll vote on health care. find out if there's just a crack they could do it. that max baucus plan. we'll ask. >> your. >>> you're watching "squawk box" on cnbc, first in business worldwide. american airlines announcing 2.9 in additional liquidity and aircraft financing. included in the $2.9 million cash from the frequent flyer miles with citigroup. amr allocating plans for dallas-ft. worth, chicago, miami, new york. >> got comments we'd love to hear from you. our address as always is squawk@cnbc.com. when we come back, the man who brought indymac back to life. he'll talk about the fdic efforts to rescue banks. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 i want everything right where i can find it. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 anything that makes trading easier. tdd#: 1-800-345-2550 i want to be right in the middle of the action-- tdd#: 1-800-345-

. >> reporter: ranking republican charles grassley. >> this bill has new taxes on everything from q-tips to pacemakers, from cancer screenings to pregnancy tests. there is even a $60 billion across-the-board health plan tax. experts and economists say all of these health care taxes will be passed on to consumers. >> reporter: grassley also criticized the white house. he said president obama's team had forced an arbitrary deadline on the committee, while he and other members of the so-called "gang of six" were trying to come up with a bipartisan bill. >> here we are, the cry of impatience has won out and the artificial deadline was put in charge of this process. they have put moving quickly over moving correctly. including those that deal with delivery caring, financing and expansion of insurance coverage. for some democrats and one key republican, the biggest concerns about the bill are whether it has adequate subsidies for some uninsured and the fact that it does not allow a public option. west virginia's jay rockefeller: >> we need to provide families with the option to enroll in publi

senator grassley says president obama is not keeping his word to you. earlier, senator grassley went "on the record." senator, nice to see you, sir. >> thank you. glad to be with you, greta. greta: senator, answer this sort of simple question on this health care reform. is it possible to cover will 47 million more people while improving quality for less money. is that at all possible? >> not with less money. but probably not with a full 900 billion that you are talking about. but here's the problem in trying to convince you or anybody else. the reforms that might be a bill like this assuming it can pass is probably down the road five or six years changing the delivery system of health care is an example. in ways that are not really partisan to be quite honest with you. ideas that come from the medical field, not from those of us in politics. but, the problem is all the controversial stuff is upfront. and so from that standpoint, it's a very difficult thing to explain it's a very difficult thing to sell. greta: the president says he won't sign anything t

so the truth of this is, knowing chuck grassley as i do, he really doesn't know why the president is mad at him. he really doesn't. what did i say that was so bad? he would pass a lie detector test saying, i don't know why the president's mad at me about saying that about death panels. he really would. >> his tv series right now would be "lost." >> well, not used to the high stakes, high pressure, every single word counts politics. he's never been in that before. >> we'll get him a primer on the 21st century. lawrence o'donnell of nbc and the huffington post." thanks for coming in. >>> one of the most emotional moment of president's special address to congress is when he invoked the memory of senator kennedy and saying he had recently received a letter three months before his death. he said it should be delivered to the president upon his passing. in it, he expressed confidence health care reform would finally pass this year and he referred to health care reform as that great unfinished business of our great society. joined now by the late senator's oldest son, ted kennedy jr. thank

and i just spoke with senator chuck grassley.he is the top republican on the senate finance committee, really seen as the best chance to get a bipartisan agreement on a health care overhaul and he told me that he hopes that the three democrats and the two other republicans that he's been talking with for months and months now, he's hoping that they can strike a bipartisan deal on health care overhaul before president obama's speech tomorrow night. he says even though to him, the time line there is not ideal, he understands that this is what senator maux baucus, the chairman of the senate finance committee, what he is hoping to do, strike a deal with this -- these three democrats and these three republicans before the president's speech tomorrow night and grassley himself saying that he's hopeful. this group, heidi, is going to be meeting today, 2:30 p.m. eastern and they're going to be talking over a proposal that senator baucus put out over the weekend. this first formal proposal for health care overhaul. it does not include a p

just moments ago, republican senator chuck grassley spoke outside the room where for the first time,he full senate finance committee is getting a look at senator baucus' health care proposal. listen. >> i believe being pushed by the white house and by senate leadership to move ahead when there are still some things unresolved, and some of those are contentious things that need to be resolved. but i think they could have been resolved, and i think it's been said by several of the three of us to do it right, and we're kind of preempted from doing it right by being pushed or shoved aside, let's say, by the leadership and by the white house because they want to move on. >> nbc's kelly o'donnell is live on capitol hill. okay, kelly, senator baucus said he's still hopeful some republicans might sign on. sure doesn't sound like it. >> well, i think if you listen to chuck grassley's words and the tone, it sure doesn't sound like chairman baucus is going to have much help from republicans on this. today really has been a day of reaction. and interestingly enough, reaction has been negative fr

senator chuck grassley said this was the goal of senator baucus. some sources have told us that senator baucus was ready to cut bait if he wasn't going to go fishing today. if there wouldn't be a bipartisan agreement. that was senator kent conrad also a democrat. he said all along do not rush us. i have to say much to the chagrin of some of the democratic leaders. he's been pushing back on any deadline. he's saying, we don't have to get this done before president obama's speech tonight and it's counterproductive for there to be suggestions that we do. what are they talking about in this meeting? a source familiar with these discussions tells us senator baucus will be telling these democrats about the proposal that he gave this gang of six and this bipartisan group. he's going to talk about the offer that he made and talk to them about how he'll be moving forward and is he going to talk about some of this proposed changes coming from republicans and also democrats? there was a deadline for 10:00 a.m. this morning for that as you know. we're not sure

caller: senator grassley. have been involved with medicare as an insurance broker for over three years. years ago the federal government had unified all of the medicare supplements, so plan a is planned a, wherever you purchased it. why can't we leave the public option out and allow congress to mandate several plans that all insurance companies throughout the country must carry. then by allowing to purchase across state lines will simply lower the cost. the reason is, if everyone can purchase, let's say, plan b of a program designed by congress and the insurance companies, and all the benefits are equal, the only thing the people will have to look at is the cost of the policy. guest: these are very good digestion that you gave to us. the only one that is controversial to do with, and i support when you say about telling across state lines, but there is a partisan difference on that. on the other things that you mentioned, there is not a partisan difference. the extent to which we set up exchanges, consumer-fri

chuck grassley, the ranking republican on finance and he said the situation is simply now out of hishat has happened here is the politics has taken over. the white house is getting anxious. senator reid is getting anxious. i suppose senator pelosi wants cover for her liberal bail and the politics stepping in is going to make it very, very difficult. >> senator grassley is correct that there is a lot of anxiousness to get going and move this timetable, but it's also true that politics has taken over and both sides. republicans are almost unanimously opposed and democrats almost unanimously for it. the question is, can democrats get at least one vote from republicans. that would be olympia snowe. >> that's right, john. i agree with you. politics has taken over on both sides. stay with us. we're going to have more on president obama, whether he can regain his health care initiative. let's bring in former vermont governor, howard dean. we also have jimmy pete. when i look at this bill, i see a lot of new taxes. i'm concerned that this is not the right time to be adding more taxes. >> tha

. >> we worked with olympia snowe, chuck grassley, mike enzi. we hope they will continue to work through this process. some people don't want to come together and solve this problem. others in that committee we think do and we think they are serious about health care reform. >> so as we move forward, david, we see the clock about 4 hours 57 minutes from the president's speech. many people are really wondering where this bipartisan support. you have some members of that gang of six who have said that they wouldn't vote for it, even if there was an agreement, grassley specifically. you wonder how does the white house move forward when you clearly have people part of the bipartisan talks saying they wouldn't vote for it anyway? >> so tamron. we know the president will try to influence people tonight. despite mike enzi and chuck grassley pouring cold water on the democratic plans, be the white house is still out there saying, look, we are welcoming bipartisan support, we continue to talk with them and also the interviewer about to do with senator ol

acorn officials say grassley's accusations are based on transactions that occurred before a leadership shakeup last year. acorn has come under intense scrutiny since the release of undercover videos showing some of its workers giving advice to prospective clients on how to break the law. senators are taking a break after a week of debating healthcare reform. today, an idea p pronounced dead was resurrected, and that led to some in-fighting among democrats. chief political correspondent carl cameron has that story. >> one day after accusing republicans of delaying tactics an threatening to keep the senate finance committee on working on healthcare reform through saturday, max baucus nowdgessed a long weekend break for the jewish holiday. >> this will not be a long session today. we will recess today at about noon today, and not come back until tuesday morning next week. >> baucus is at odds with, among other democrats, charles schumer of new york and jay rockefeller of west virginia. their amendment would kill the non-profit insurance cooperatives baucus proposes and create a public opt

that is from chuck grassley. the senate finance committee is considering changes to max baucus' reform plan today. he is considering expanding subsidies to purchase insurance, reducing penalties for not buying insurance, and increasing the level of an excise tax. so far, there are hundreds of proposed amendment -- 500 ticket for" -- >> the bill would require all americans to have health insurance. if you do not, you have to pay a tax. some democrats are saying, that provide some subsidies for low and moderate -- moderate income americans, but more liberal democrats are arguing, let's just create a government-run the insurance option. >> i will be very concerned about instead of providing true competition in the form of a public option to these insurance plans, instead we are providing consumers with a subsidy to buy the expensive insurance. why would we do that? >> democrats are also debating how and how much to tax those cadillac health insurance plans. democrats want to make sure they did not hit seniors or mem

grassley over here. top five industries, health professionals have given him $222,000, insurance, $184,000. pharmaceuticals, $145,000, lobbyists $137,000, hospitals, nursing homes, 137,000. those are the top five people who have given him money. let's go over here to mr. mcconnell. look at mr. mcconnell. this is the top five industries that have given him money. securities investments, 1.16 million. let's go down here to health professionals, $713,000. those are two republicans. here's the big brouhaha democrat on this. not too far off, by the way, securities and investment, top five industries, 842,00$842,000. insurance, $552,000. health professionals, $497,000. pharmaceuticals, $507,000. now $507,000, that's a big amount for people who are making decisions about how our health care is going to be run from someone who's very interested in how it's going to be run, isn't it? >> and you're not adding the amount of the equation that goes into both political parties. >> i'm going to start doing this all the

senator baucus, senator grassley, i think that would move things down the pike a long way. >> do youee, senator sanders? >> no, i don't. i would hope the president comes forward and explains the very serious health care crisis that we're facing, lou, you know, i'm glad we're talking about health care internationally because every viewer should know the united states today embarrassingly is the only country in the industrialized world that does not guarantee health care to its people, and yet we end up spending twice as much per person on health care as any other nation and our outcomes in terms of life expectancy, infant mortality, deaths, are larger. i hope he urges republicans to come on board. bottom line is, we need health care reform so that we cut the costs of health care spending and make it affordable and guarantee health care to all people. >> let me ask you this, because it seems to many in this country that very little has been done in the way of public hearings, putting intelligently and comprehensively, facts on the table about health care in the country, about who owns

senator grassley would like to do something.he is the republican leader in the finance committee but hard to expect senator grassley to provide the leadership when he turns around, nobody's there. he's buy himself. and so he has been working hard and so have other republicans. i don't mean to denigrate the republicans who have taken a different position. some are principle opposition. they have the right to be in opposition. and they have the right to offer amendments and have a right to debate and right to vote. and i think once we get focused on this is what the president says he wants, now what do we do, where do we go from here? do we offer a substitute as the republican party? do we offer amendments? work together? the president has indicated he is going to spend a lot of time with leadership in both parties at the white house trying to pound out just one little thing at a time. there's more in this bill than the public option. i know that's important to many in this room, but there are hundreds of provisions in this bill.

i will enter your question that you asked of senator grassley earlier. -- i will answer your question. one of the biggest problems is there is cost shifting is to the private sector. and there is no argument about that. 20% or 30 percent of the costs is what it is because the government thinks is the prize, and we underpay what those market forces would normally dictate, and because of that, there is cost shifting, and the rest of america has their insurance rates go up, which makes it unaffordable for a lot of people, which makes a lot of people undershirts -- which raises the price for other people. either negotiating or fixing rates. there is going to be a cost shift that happens to everyone else, and that is why one group said that millions of americans will lose their insurance, because of this extra cost shift, and there will be even more cost shifting that will happen, and you'll end up with people losing their private health insurance, so you end up with more people on the government, and is a spiralling effect that could eventually destroy the private insurance market, which

that is something that charles grassley in particular is not happy with. he said as soon as the insurance companies are taxed like that, they are going to pass it right along to the consumers. he thinks that's a very bad idea. the other thing senator grassley i'm told by an aide is not happy with is the overall cost. it's $900 billion, a little bit under that. he wants the overall cost to be even less than that. those are just a couple of issues that the republicans have, and it will be very interesting to see whether or not they can work that out. we could have a moment in the next 24 hours of whether or not they are going to -- going to go ahead with this or whether max baucus is going to go ahead and try to pass this with mostly democrats or maybe one or two republicans but not the big bipartisan bill that they have been hoping for and working on for months and months in that office behind me. wolf. >> dana staking out the office there. dana, thanks very much. let's check in with jack cafferty right now with "the cafferty file." >> wolf, thank you there

caller: senator grassley.been involved with medicare as an insurance broker for over three years. years ago the federal government had unified all of the medicare supplements, so plan a is planned a, wherever you purchased it. why can't we leave the public option out and allow congress to mandate several plans that all insurance companies throughout the country must carry. then by allowing to purchase across state lines will simply lower the cost. the reason is, if everyone can purchase, let's say, plan b of a program designed by congress and the insurance companies, and all the benefits are equal, the only thing the people will have to look at is the cost of the policy. guest: these are very good digestion that you gave to us. the only one that is controversial to do with, and i support when you say about telling across state lines, but there is a partisan difference on that. on the other things that you mentioned, there is not a partisan difference. the extent to which we set up exchanges, consumer-friendly

his friend chuck grassley knows that. they worked together to provide health care to children with disabilities. on issues like these ted kennedy's passion was borne not of some rigid ideology but of his own experience. it was the experience of having two children stricken with cancer. he never forgot the sheer terror and helplessness that any parent feels when a child is badly sick. and he was able to imagine what it must be like for those without insurance, what it would be lk to have to say to a wife or a child or an aging parent, there is something that could make you better but i just can't afford it. that large heartedness, that concern and regard for the plight of others is not a partisan feeling.

caller: senator grassley.i have been involved with medicare as an insurance broker for over three years. years ago the federal government had unified all of the medicare supplements, so plan a is planned a, wherever you purchased it. why can't we leave the public option out and allow congress to mandate several plans that all insurance companies throughout the country must carry. then by allowing to purchase across state lines will simply lower the cost. the reason is, if everyone can purchase, let's say, plan b of a program designed by congress and the insurance companies, and all the benefits are equal, the only thing the people will have to look at is the cost of the policy. guest: these are very good digestion that you gave to us. the only one that is controversial to do with, and i support when you say about telling across state lines, but there is a partisan difference on that. on the other things that you mentioned, there is not a partisan difference. the extent to which we set up exchanges, consumer-fr