One of the most debated and political divisive issues in the United States is over how to handle the American health care system. While Democrats call to preserve the affordable care act, or enact a single-payer system, Republicans are going in the other direction.
Republicans on health care
Not long after Barack Obama was elected president in 2008, he pushed for a drastic change in how the country handles health care. By the start of 2010, the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, was signed into law. Even before Obamacare became the law of the land, Republicans were opposed to the change, and have only increased their criticism ever since.
Opposing Obamacare became a prerequisite to run as a Republican politician, and it was one of the main talking points that Donald Trump used on his way to the White House. As part of the new GOP health care bill, the Medicaid program would be on the chopping block, which was a highlighted part of the debate during a March 19 interview on CNN's "State of the Union."
(Cotton's comments on Medicaid start at 1:50 in the above video.)
Joining CNN host Jake Tapper was Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, who didn't hold back his thoughts on the current state of the health care system. After Tapper questioned whether or not he was concerned about Americans losing insurance under the cuts of the Medicaid program, Cotton didn't appear concerned, and actually took his attack on the program to another level, targeting even low-income Americans who rely on the government assistance.
.@SenTomCotton tells @jaketapper "Medicaid is a welfare program" only on #CNNSOTU https://t.co/V1oHmNINgh
— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) March 19, 2017
"Medicaid is a welfare program,” Tom Cotton told Jake Tapper. "It's primarily designed for the indigent, elderly, the disabled, the blind and children," he continued. Not stopping there, the senator elaborated further, explaining that Medicaid was "not designed for able-bodied adults" and that Republicans want to "get those people off of Medicaid." Cotton stressed that Republicans in Congress want to see adults on Medicaid moved off and into the workplace, despite many being unable to do so.
Next step
While Donald Trump and Republican leaders are doing their best to put a positive spin on their health care bill, the Congressional Budget Office poured cold water on their hopes with a scathing review of its content. With more than 25 million Americans projected to lose their health insurance over the next decade under the GOP plan, Republicans are going to have to find a way to change the narrative moving forward.
