Former Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt is the guest on this weekend’s edition of “Iowa Press.”  Here’s the Radio Iowa story, about his appearance today at a forum in Des Moines to talk about the work of the Council for American Medical Innovation.  As you may remember, Gephardt won the 1988 Iowa Democratic Party Caucuses and finished fourth in the 2004 Iowa Caucuses and he campaigned here in 2007 on behalf of Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, so he is a well-known figure in Iowa.

During the taping of the IPTV program (which airs tonight at 7:30), Gephardt talked about his reaction when the U.S. House passed a health care reform package earlier this month: 

“I was elated.  In fact, I called Speaker Pelosi and Stenny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn, the whip, and I congratulated them and I was thrilled that they were able to get this done and being in that spot 20 years ago and seeing failure,  I know how hard this is to do and let me tell you the leaders and the members who got this done did a magnificent job on a very tough set of issues.”

Gephardt also offered his prediction of “if” and “when” a final bill may land on President Obama’s desk. 

“I’m optimistic that it will.  It may be early next year, but I think in this period of time, it will be done. In 1993 when I was the leader in the House, with the Clinton health care plan, I couldn’t get it out of committee, so the House has now passed a bill and the Senate is trying to pass.  If they can do that by the end of the year I think they can get a conference together and come up with a bill.

“And I think the president has done a really good job of, you know, staying out of congress’ way, giving them general direction, not being highly specific and also getting some of the big stakeholders like the doctors, like the hospitals, like the pharmaceutical companies to be supporters this time when last time they were all against it.”

Next, here’s a transcript of the portion of the program in which Gephardt addressed some of the criticism leveled at him for his work in the private sector.

Mike Glover of The Associated Press:  “Congressman, since you left congress you’ve become something of a Washington insider, done a lot of lobbying in congress and there are those who are critical of some of the clients you’ve represented.  You’ve signed up PhRMA chemicals, some other clients, anti-labor clients.  How do you respond to those criticisms?”

Gephardt:  “First of all, the criticisms are not all are accurate.  I have been working in government relations.  I have taken on clients to help them with their efforts.  I don’t take on anyone who is anti-labor, I can tell you that.  That’s not accurate. But I try to get involved in the same kind of issues I was involved in when I was in congress. 

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