Transcript: Sen. Charles Grassley

This is a partial transcript from "Your World with Neil Cavuto," May 25, 2005, that was edited for clarity.

NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: My next guest wants to stop your tax money from paying for erectile dysfunction drugs.

Joining me now, Republican Senator of Iowa Charles Grassley.

Senator, good to you have.

SEN. CHARLES GRASSLEY, R-IOWA: Glad to be with you.

CAVUTO: Why is our money going for this?

GRASSLEY: Well, I think we wrote a very broad prescription drug bill for Medicare two years ago. And that's going to go into effect starting January 1, 2006.

And then we have already had veteran programs and the Federal Health Employee Benefit program. And, obviously, the total costs of these things are just starting to add up as we are finding out the increased costs of these programs to the taxpayers. So, we're trying to find balance between the taxpayer and providing necessary prescription drugs for our seniors and veterans and federal employees.

And then, what is the purpose of our prescription drug program for Medicare, is basically to prevent death and to keep people healthy. And buying Viagra, as an example, would not fall into the category of a life- or-death situation.

CAVUTO: But I know a lot of older men who might say that, at the very least, it keeps them happy.

GRASSLEY: Well, there's a lot of ways to stay happy.

(LAUGHTER)

GRASSLEY: And let me tell you, if they...

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: Without Uncle Sam underwriting it, I guess.

GRASSLEY: Yes. Yes. Thank you for saying it for me.

CAVUTO: All right.

Let me ask you, Senator, I know you also were talking about these renegade senators who crafted this effort to break the filibuster logjam.

GRASSLEY: Yes.

CAVUTO: You were none too happy about it. How do you feel now?

GRASSLEY: Well, I'm still not happy, because you have six Republicans and six Democrats, or maybe seven of each, setting themselves up as kind of a god to go to people to get an OK of who the president is going to appoint.

Now, I don't mind if they set themselves up that way. What I would really mind, if the president looks to them to be a judge of who he should appoint to the Supreme Court. Then, of course, he won't be fulfilling the promises he made in the last election.

(CROSSTALK)

CAVUTO: But, Senator, he heralded their move in breaking this logjam. Was that his tacit way of saying, I like them; I'm for them?

(CROSSTALK)

GRASSLEY: I don't think so.

I think I've talked to the president enough that he has in mind the type of people — he didn't mention any names to me — but the type of people he's going to appoint to the Supreme Court. It's the same strict constructionists that he talked about appointing during the last election. So, he was elected, so has got to keep his promise.

CAVUTO: All right.

GRASSLEY: And I think he's going to appoint, regardless of this so- called compromise.

CAVUTO: Let me ask you, Senator, very quickly, if Senator John McCain, as expected, seeks his party's presidential nomination and knowing the ill will you have expressed to me just now, what are you going to do?

GRASSLEY: Well, listen, first of all, you know, these campaigns are long enough if you start in the year 2007. And I'm going to tell you the same thing I told several people in 2003. Wait until the end of 2003, and I'm going to make up my mind who I am going to support in Iowa, because these campaigns are long enough. And that's basically what I'm going to do this time.

CAVUTO: All right, so another couple of years before you say anything.

GRASSLEY: Yes.

CAVUTO: All right. Thank you very much. Senator Grassley, good having you.

GRASSLEY: Thank you.

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