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Members Call on Grayson to Apologize to House

Updated: 1:29 p.m.Democrats and Republicans are asking Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) to apologize for remarks he made on the House floor Tuesday night that the GOP plan for health care reform was for people to “die quickly— if they get sick.“It is my duty and pride tonight to be able to announce exactly what the Republicans plan to do to health care in America. It’s this, very simply. It’s a very simple plan,— Grayson said in his remarks. “Don’t get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly.— Rep. Tom Price (Ga.), chairman of the Republican Study Committee, prepared a resolution of disapproval against Grayson but did not offer it Wednesday, giving Grayson an opportunity to apologize on the House floor for his remarks.“It’s that kind of presentation that bases and denigrates our proceedings into the House and does a disservice to all Americans,— Price said. The resolution would declare Grayson was in “breach of decorum and degraded the integrity and proceedings of the House.— A Democratic leader also called on Grayson to apologize.“I wouldn’t have used the words that Mr. Grayson has,— Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (Conn.) said. Larson said he understands Grayson’s strong feelings but said he would encourage him to apologize. Larson stopped short of saying he would support a resolution of disapproval if he doesn’t. Democrats passed a similar resolution when Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) refused to apologize to the full House for shouting, “You lie!— at President Barack Obama during a joint address to Congress.Larson noted that a number of Republicans have said similar things on the floor about Democratic plans on health care. But he encouraged both Democrats and Republicans to “keep in mind the rules of the House— despite the emotional and visceral debate over health care.Larson pointed to comments by Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (Fla.), Louie Gohmert (Texas) and other Republicans.In July, Brown-Waite said the Democrats’ bill “essentially said to America’s seniors: drop dead.— Rep. Louie Gohmert said socializing medicine would kill women. “I would hate to think that among five women, one of ‘em is going to die because we go to socialized care.—Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) also came under fire for saying the Republican plan “will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government.—

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