Jonathan Gruber's selective interpretation of his role in writing the Obamacare health law continues to morph as he apologizes before Congress for his "insulting" remarks about consumers and attempts to walk back a storyline as the legislation's author that he once promoted.
Democrats as well as Republicans have called Gruber out, the
Daily Signal noted of the fallout. He was blasted by Rep. Elijah Cummings, a Maryland Democrat.
"As far as I can tell, we are here today to beat up on Jonathan Gruber for stupid — I mean absolutely stupid — comments he made over the last few years,” Cummings said. “Let me be clear, I am extremely frustrated with Dr. Gruber’s statements. They were irresponsible, incredibly disrespectful and did not reflect reality. And they were indeed insulting.”
Despite Gruber's assertions to members of Congress that he didn't write the law, in 2010, the MIT health economic professor asserted in a public speaking engagement that he did,
Mediaite reports.
"Full disclaimer: I'm going to describe it objectively but I helped write it," Gruber told an undergraduate "Principles of Economics" class
at MIT four years ago, his remarks captured on video. "So I'll be objective — I'll try to be objective — but just full disclaimer, I was involved in writing the legislation so there is some bias involved here."
But Gruber's telling of his role before a House Oversight Committee on Tuesday was far different, Mediaite noted.
“I did not draft Governor Romney’s healthcare plan, and I was not the ‘architect’ of President Obama’s healthcare plan," Gruber told lawmakers. “I ran microsimulation models to help those in the state and federal executive and legislative branches better assess the likely outcomes of various possible policy choices.”
That version,
according to The Hill, is in contrast to how Gruber has promoted himself publicly and how later, he arrogantly described how the law easily came to fruition over the "stupidity of the American voter."
Since his remarks have gone public, Gruber has faced a firestorm of anger and several states have dropped consulting contracts with him. The White House, meanwhile, has also distanced itself from him as he attempts a public mea culpa, and as members of Congress ponder changes to the divisive law.