A version of health care reform legislation currently in the Senate makes nearly 1,000 references to the Health and Human Services secretary, a clear indicator that the bill is actually a government takeover of health care, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said Monday.

The Republican lawmaker is pointing to an 839-page health care bill drafted by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, chaired by Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin, which he says creates 87 new government programs and a “substantial amount of new regulatory power” for the HHS secretary.

“Now I know the other side doesn’t like to hear that this bill calls for a government takeover of our health care system,” Grassley said. “But let’s let the facts speak for themselves. If it isn’t a government takeover of our health care system, why does the word ‘secretary’ appear 982 times in this bill? Maybe the other side needs a reminder that the secretary of HHS is an agent of the federal government.”

Grassley said those powers include “what health plan works best for you and your family,” ”what conditions your doctor must meet to be included in your plan,” and “what curriculum should be taught in our medical schools.”

“Now you may be tired of hearing me say ‘secretary,’ because I sure am tired of saying it, but I have only said it 25 times in this speech,” Grassley said. “This bill uses the word another 957 times, which is an indication that the HELP Committee bill is moving control of our health care system in the wrong direction.”