Following the reveal of the content of the proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA), United States Congressman jason chaffetz appeared on CNN's New Day program to promote and defend the proposed law. During the interview, Chaffetz made a series of remarks that ignited a firestorm of controversy on Twitter and other social media outlets, when he suggested that middle and low income Americans would have to make a 'choice' between purchasing a health insurance plan and a new iPhone.
Chaffetz remark draws controversy over comments on AHCA
Rep. Chaffetz was first elected to Congress in 2008, where he represents the third congressional district in the state of Utah.
Chaffetz ran for office and has governed on a right-wing, conservative platform, which includes opposition to Obamacare, marriage equality, the effectiveness of medical vaccinations, and skepticism over the scientific consensus on climate change. The Congressman made headlines in 2015 for his Congressional investigations into former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Chaffetz has also been head of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform since 2015.
Chaffetz's remarks come after the reveal of the content of the American Health Care Act, introduced by Congressional Republicans, which is intended to be the legislative replacement for the affordable care act, introduced by former President Barack Obama.
The AHCA would keep two key component's of Obamacare: namely, protecting customers with existing conditions and allowing children to stay on their parent's plans until the age of twenty-six. However, the bill would remove the individual mandate to purchase health care, and would reduce tax subsidies for consumers and Medicaid funding.
The AHCA is vehemently opposed by the Democratic party, and has also drawn criticism form various members of the Republican Party.
Chaffetz remarks are similar to earlier ones made by President Obama
The Congressman stated on CNN's New Day that individual Americans may be forced to choose between purchasing a new iPhone or a health care plan.
His comments came under intense scrutiny and criticism, with may stating his comments were offensive to low-income people and unpractical in today's economy. However, many have also noted that, in 2014, President Obama made very similar comments while promoting the Affordable Care Act.
