On the recordJune 21, 2017
Mr. President, I am also here to comment, as Senator Cornyn has, on the state of play, if you will, and the repeal and replacement of ObamaCare. I think sometimes the American people feel like collateral damage as Republicans and Democrats go back and forth as to what is the best policy. I am a physician, a doctor who worked in a public hospital for the uninsured for decades before I went into politics. I guess from my perspective, the primary thing is not Republican versus Democrat, but that patient who is struggling to pay her bills, her premiums, or the fellow who can't afford medicine. What are we doing for them? There is a gentleman who went on my Facebook page--again, cutting through this kind of political noise. This is Brian from Covington, LA: My family plan is $1,700 a month, me, my wife and 2 children. The ACA has brought me to my knees. I hope we can get something done. The middle class is dwindling away. Can everyone just come together and figure this out? If that is not a plaintive plea of someone who is drowning under the cost of premiums for insurance, which he knows he has and, as a responsible father and husband, he will work to pay for--nonetheless, he says that he is being crushed by these high premiums. The American people need relief. We have to lower those premiums.…





