On the recordJune 27, 2017
Before Senator Cardin leaves the floor and we yield to our friend from Washington, who is also so knowledgeable about healthcare, on this point with the States being the laboratories of democracy, during the debate with my colleagues over the Affordable Care Act, we wrote a provision, 1332. It gives the States the authority to do better, to come up with, as the distinguished Senator from Delaware, Mr. Carper, said--it is a chance to do better and try out those fresh ideas on my colleagues. The problem is, with the Senate Republican bill, they are talking about giving the States the right to do worse, to waive out some of these essential protections. Again, I think this is natural for something that could be bipartisan, where Democrats and Republicans could work together to really encourage States to do better. Let's not go the other way and abuse that provision in the Affordable Care Act so States can work. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Burr). The Senator from Washington.
