ICYMI: On Scripps News, Kelly Presses Republicans to Negotiate Fix for Skyrocketing Premiums, Government Shutdown
“These are skyrocketing costs. And right now, it seems like my Republican colleagues don’t really care about this. I mean, they do not have a solution.”
In case you missed it, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly spoke with Scripps News’ Holly Firfer today discuss the urgent need for Congress to prevent health care costs from spiking for millions of Americans. Kelly highlighted stories from Arizonans who will see their monthly premiums skyrocket if ACA tax credits are not extended. He pressed President Trump and congressional Republicans to come to the table and negotiate a solution to prevent premiums from going up and reopen the government.
Sen. Kelly speaks to Holly Firfer on Scripps News.
Watch the full interview here. See key excepts below:
On rising health care costs and real impacts on Arizona families…
“Just yesterday, I spoke to a woman from Buckeye. I think her name was Leslie. She was a diabetic. Her premium is currently $600 a month. With these tax credits going away, it’ll be over $1,000 a month. There was also a veterinarian I spoke to, I think it was yesterday or the day before, that her medication costs $8,000 a month. Her current premium is $900. It’s going to go up to over $1,300 a month without these tax credits that have been in place and helping people. And it’s millions and millions of people who will be unable to afford their health insurance if we do not do something about this this Congress.
“[…] And right now, it seems like my Republican colleagues don’t really care about this. I mean, they do not have a solution.”
On the need for the President to engage in negotiations…
“This isn’t rocket science. This is pretty easy. Extending this by a year at least temporarily solves the problem. We are willing to have a negotiation that doesn’t—it could take just a matter of hours. But here’s the problem: the Republicans only react to what the president says and does, and on this issue, he has spent very little time on it. He has spent a lot more time talking about his ballroom. He’s been on two international trips during this shutdown. He has not been focused on this.”
On Trump using SNAP benefits as leverage during the shutdown…
“It’s a horrible thing to do to use hungry kids as leverage in a negotiation about health care. So, I want those folks to understand that we are fighting to bring down the cost of groceries for them, restore their SNAP benefits, and at the same time, for people that get their health care off the exchange, to keep it affordable.”
