Transcripts For CSPAN3 20170622 : vimarsana.com

Find it online at cspan. Org. Just type Capitol Hill National Security Forum in the search bar. This morning Senate Republicans released their version of the bill to replace the health care law. Shortly after the text was released, Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell and senators from both sides of the aisle came to the senate floor to talk about the proposal. Majority leader, seven years ago, democrats imposed obamacare on our country. They said it would lower costs. It didnt. In 2013 to 2017 premiums have on average doubled and the vast majority of states on the federal exchange. Next year, obamacare premiums will go up across the country once again. Potentially by as much as 43 in iowa, 59 in maryland, and even a staggering 80 in new mexico. Does it sound like obamacare is working. They said it would increase choice. They said it would increase choice but, of course, it didnt. This year 70 of american counties have had little or no choice of insurers under obamacare. Next year, people will have no choice at all meaning yet again americans could be thrown off their plans in states like missouri and ohio and wisconsin. Does it sound like obamacare is working . They tell us it would be wrong for the senate to address these problems in a serious way while what theyve defended for seven years teeters, literally teeters, on the edge of total collapse. They were wrong before, theyre wrong again now. Because obamacare isnt working by nearly any measure, it has failed and no amount of 11th hour reality denied or buckpassing by democrats is going to change the fact that more americans are going to get hurt unless we do something. I regret that our democratic friends made clear early on that they did not want to work with us in a serious bipartisan way to address the obamacare status quo but republicans believe we have a responsibility to act and we are. For our constituents, for our states and for our country. Weve long called for a better way forward and weve been engaged in intensive talks on how to get there. Through dozens of meetings open to each and every member of the conference weve had the opportunity to consider many ideas for confronting the obamacare status quo. We debated many policy proposals. We considered many different view points in the end, we found we share many ideas about what needs to be achieved and how we can achieve it. These shared policy objectives and the solutions to help achieve them are what made up the Health Care Discussion draft that we finish talking through. Weve freed ourselves from obamacare mandates and policies will repeal the individual mandate so americans are no longer forced to buy insurance they dont needor cant afford. Will repeal the employer mandate so americans no longer see their hours and take hohome pay cut employers we agreed on the need for policies with Health Insurance and policies contained in discussion draft will do t t that. We can put down pressure on premiums, expand taxfree Health Savings accounts and deploy targeted tax credits so we can help defray outofpocket costs and ship power from washington to the states so they have more flexibility to provide more americans with the kind of affordable Insurance Options they want. We agree on the need to stabilize the Insurance Markets that are collapsing under obamacare as well and policies contained in the discussion draft will implement stabilization policies so we can bring financial certainty to Insurance Markets and hope to americans that face the possibility of limited or zero options next year under obamacare. And hopefully transition away from the collapsing obamacare system so more americans will not be hurt. We agree on strengthening medicaid, preserve access to care with preexisting conditions and allow children to stay on their parents Health Insurance through the age of 26. Im pleased we were able to arrive at a draft that incorporates input from so many different members who represent so many different constituents who are facing so many different challenges. The draft containing the solutions i mentioned is posted online and i encourage everyone to carefully review it. There will be ample time to analyze, discuss, and provide thoughts before legislation comes to the floor, and i hope every senator takes that opportunity. Next week, we expect the budget the Congressional Budget Office to release the score. After that, we will proceed with a robust debate and open amendment process on the senate floor, a process that i would encourage each of our 100 senators to participate in when legislation does come to the floor it will present Senate Democrats with another opportunity to do whats right for the american people. They can choose to keep standing by as their failing law continues to collapse and hurt more americans but i hope they will join us to bring relief to the families whove struggled under obamacare for far too long either way, its time to act because obamacare is a direct attack on the middleclass and American Families deserve better than its failing status quo. They deserve better care, thats what were going to continue to work to bring them. The majority leader announcing the republican plan to replace the Current Health care law. Senate democrats came together give their reaction a short time ag ago. Okay, hi, everybody. Sorry were late