Original Broadcaster Captioning (Enhanced). Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:00:00GUBERNATORIAL CONTESTS FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO ELECTION
00:00:04NIGHT. FOLLOW CAMPAIGN 2026 ON
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00:00:18FORMER COLORADO DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TIM WIRTH AND FORMER CONNECTICUT REPUBLICAN
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00:01:26>> JOINING US NOW TO DISCUSS HEALTH CARE AND CAMPAIGN, 2026
00:01:30IS YVETTE FONTENOT, SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR AT PROTECT OUR
00:01:33CARE. AND A FORMER SENIOR OBAMA ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ON
00:01:36HEALTH CARE. YVETTE, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US THIS MORNING. >> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
00:01:39APPRECIATE IT. >> FIRST, FOR OUR AUDIENCE, TELL
00:01:42US ABOUT PROTECT OUR CARE, YOUR MISSION, AND HOW YOU'RE FUNDED.
00:01:45>> SURE. HAPPY TO PROTECT OUR CARE IS A SOCIAL WELFARE
00:01:49NONPROFIT THAT'S DEDICATED TO
00:01:52MAKING HIGH QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, AND EQUITABLE HEALTH CARE A RIGHT AND NOT A PRIVILEGE. A
00:01:57PRIVILEGE FOR EVERYONE IN AMERICA. PROTECT OUR CARE
00:02:01EDUCATES THE PUBLIC, INFLUENCES
00:02:04POLICY, SUPPORTS HEALTH CARE, CHAMPIONS, AND HOLDS POLITICIANS
00:02:07ACCOUNTABLE. WE FIGHT TO EXPAND ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, HIGH
00:02:10QUALITY HEALTH INSURANCE TO LOWER THE COST OF HEALTH CARE
00:02:13FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, AND TO REDUCE INEQUITIES IN
00:02:17HEALTH CARE BASED ON GENDER,
00:02:20INCOME, RACE, ETHNICITY,
00:02:22GEOGRAPHY, OR SEXUAL PREFERENCE. WE TAKE FUNDING FROM A MIXTURE
00:02:26OF PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS. >> I WANT TO ASK YOU SPECIFICALLY ABOUT YOUR SUPPORT.
00:02:30I KNOW YOU SAID THAT YOU SUPPORT EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE,
00:02:33BUT A LOT OF THINGS ARE IN CONVERSATION WHEN IT COMES TO
00:02:37THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, LIKE
00:02:40SINGLE PAYER OR MEDICARE FOR ALL. I WONDER, DO YOU GUYS, WHICH ONE OF THOSE DO YOU
00:02:44SUPPORT? DO YOU SUPPORT MARKETPLACE HEALTH CARE? WHERE
00:02:47DOES PROTECT OUR CARE LAND ON THE CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE
00:02:51HAPPENING, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TODAY? >> YEAH, LET ME JUST SAY, JUST
00:02:54TO BACK UP THAT WE THINK FOR THE
00:02:56MIDTERM, HEALTH CARE COSTS HAVE OVERTAKEN THE TOP FINANCIAL
00:03:00CONCERNS FOR AMERICANS AHEAD OF FOOD, HOUSING AND GAS PRICES,
00:03:03WHICH ARE ALL AFFORDABILITY
00:03:07CONCERNS. BUT ACCORDING TO PLACES LIKE KFF.
00:03:11>> 64% OF AMERICANS ARE WORRIED ABOUT PAYING FOR HEALTH CARE, A
00:03:14TOPPING THE LIST OF THEIR AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS,
00:03:16ACCORDING TO GALLUP. A THIRD OF AMERICANS REPORT CUTTING BACK ON
00:03:20DAILY EXPENSES, SUCH AS SKIPPING MEALS AND DRIVING LESS, OR
00:03:23REDUCING UTILITY USE TO AFFORD HEALTH CARE. AND FINALLY,
00:03:27ACCORDING TO AXIOS, A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SAY THEY'RE MORE
00:03:30LIKELY TO VOTE FOR CANDIDATES THAT SUPPORT LOWERING HEALTH CARE COSTS. WE KNOW THAT
00:03:34DEMOCRATS HOLD A 21 POINT
00:03:38ADVANTAGE OVER REPUBLICANS ON HEALTH CARE, BECAUSE WE'VE
00:03:41DELIVERED ON LOWER PREMIUMS, EXPANDING COVERAGE AND LOWERING
00:03:45DRUG COSTS, WHICH RANKS AMONGST THE TOP CONCERNS FOR PEOPLE. AND
00:03:48IN CONTRAST, WE KNOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S HANDLING OF
00:03:51HEALTH CARE LANDED THEM 36
00:03:54POINTS UNDERWATER. I THINK, IN
00:03:56TERMS OF, UH, WHAT PEOPLE WANT,
00:03:59WHAT THE VOTERS WANT, AND WHAT THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT IS THAT
00:04:02THEY CAN GET THE SAME QUALITY OF CARE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR
00:04:06INCOME, THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET THE MEDICATIONS THEY NEED
00:04:10AND BE ABLE TO AFFORD THEM, THAT THEY CAN GET THE CARE THEIR
00:04:13DOCTOR RECOMMENDS, THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO AFFORD INSURANCE WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE CUTS IN THE REST
00:04:17OF THEIR FAMILY BUDGET, AND
00:04:19AFFORD THE CARE THAT THEY NEED.
00:04:21SO TO DO THAT, DEMOCRATIC
00:04:23MEMBERS OF THE RELEVANT COMMITTEES HAVE PROPOSED
00:04:26EXPANDING THE MEDICARE NEGOTIATED PRICES TO ALL
00:04:30CONSUMERS, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY GET THEIR HEALTH CARE,
00:04:33CAPPING AND LIMITING PEOPLE'S OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS. WE NEED TO
00:04:37RESTORE THE TRILLION DOLLARS IN MEDICAID CUTS THAT WERE MADE IN
00:04:40THE THE ONE, THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, AS IT'S BEEN CALLED. WE
00:04:44NEED TO PROVIDE AMERICANS WITH UNBIASED INFORMATION ABOUT
00:04:48ENROLLMENT, AND WE NEED TO RESTORE THE TAX CREDITS THAT
00:04:52LOWERED HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR PEOPLE WHO BUY COVERAGE ON THEIR OWN, WHERE
00:04:54WHERE THEY WHERE AMERICAN VOTERS
00:04:57COME OUT ON THE LARGER POLICY QUESTIONS OF SINGLE PAYER,
00:05:00MEDICARE FOR ALL. WE'LL GET TO ALL OF THAT. THAT'LL BE A
00:05:04BALLOT BOX ISSUE, BUT WE NEED TO TAKE THESE FUNDAMENTAL STEPS TO
00:05:06ENSURE THAT AMERICANS HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AGAIN.
00:05:10>> UM, I WANT TO DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THE PRESIDENT AND
00:05:13WHAT HE HAS DONE. HEALTH CARE. HE'S STARTED SAYING THAT HE
00:05:17WILL ASK CONGRESS TO PASS HIS
00:05:20GREAT HEALTH CARE PLAN. BUT I
00:05:23WONDER WHAT IMPACT HAS THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ALREADY HAD ON
00:05:27HEALTH CARE. YOU SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. WHEN IT COMES TO THAT ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,
00:05:30OBVIOUSLY, THAT HAD SOME MEDICARE COMPONENTS, BUT I
00:05:34WONDER WRIT LARGE WHAT IMPACT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS HAD ON
00:05:37HEALTH CARE. >> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
00:05:40SO I MENTIONED IN THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, THEY CUT $1
00:05:44TRILLION FROM THE MEDICAID PROGRAM THAT IS THE LARGEST HEALTH CARE CUT THAT WE'VE SEEN
00:05:48IN HISTORY. AND THE POINT, THE PURPOSE OF IT WAS TO GIVE TAX
00:05:52CUTS TO BILLIONAIRES AND
00:05:55CORPORATIONS. AND JUST TO REMIND
00:05:57THE VIEWERS, THE MEDICAID PROGRAM PAYS FOR 6 IN 10 SENIORS
00:06:01IN NURSING HOMES. IT COVERS 4 IN
00:06:0510 MOMS GIVING BIRTH. IT COVERS
00:06:08NEARLY HALF OF THE CHILDREN IN AMERICA, AND A QUARTER OF RURAL
00:06:11AMERICA. SO THIS IS A CRITICAL
00:06:14HEALTH CARE PROGRAM. THEY TOOK $1 TRILLION OUT OF THIS HEALTH
00:06:18CARE PROGRAM, AND THEY DOUBLED
00:06:19AND TRIPLED PREMIUMS FOR OVER 20 MILLION PEOPLE WHO COUNT, WHO
00:06:23BUY COVERAGE ON THEIR OWN. THEY DON'T GET IT FROM THEIR
00:06:27EMPLOYER IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE
00:06:29ACT MARKETPLACES. SO, SO FAR,
00:06:31OVER 8 MILLION PEOPLE AND COUNTING HAVE LOST HEALTH
00:06:35COVERAGE THAT THEY COUNT ON TO SEE THEIR DOCTOR. AND THE
00:06:39EXPECTATION IS THAT WE WILL BE WELL OVER 15 MILLION UNINSURED,
00:06:43NEWLY UNINSURED PEOPLE. UM, WITHIN THE TEN YEAR FRAME, OVER
00:06:46A THOUSAND HOSPITALS, CLINICS, AND NURSING HOMES ARE FACING
00:06:50CUTS OR CLOSURE. AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING. AS THE DEEPER
00:06:54CUTS GO INTO EFFECT NEXT YEAR. SO WE'RE SEEING CHAOS IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AS A RESULT
00:06:58OF THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL. AND
00:07:00IN THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE BEGUN IMPLEMENTING THROUGH REGULATION,
00:07:04HAS MADE THAT EVEN WORSE IN IN TERMS OF HOW STRICT THE
00:07:07REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN AND HAVE GONE WAY BEYOND WHAT THE STATUTE AUTHORIZED.
00:07:11>> YEAH. I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE REGULATION. SO, ACCORDING TO THE PETERSON
00:07:15INSTITUTE, THE MAJORITY OF THE
00:07:16OB SAVINGS, $819 BILLION COME
00:07:22FROM NET DECREASES IN SPENDING PROVISIONS LIKE MEDICAID.
00:07:25THERE'S ALSO REDUCTION, AS YOU SAID, IN THE TAX PREMIUM CREDITS
00:07:27FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT AND EXCHANGE ROLLIES. THAT'S ABOUT
00:07:31$200 BILLION. I WONDER IF WE
00:07:33COULD JUST FOCUS A LITTLE BIT ON
00:07:37MEDICAID RIGHT NOW. THE WAY IN
00:07:38WHICH IT'S BEEN IMPACTED BY OB,
00:07:42SPECIFICALLY, WORK REQUIREMENTS. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT AFFECTING
00:07:46THE POOL OF PEOPLE WHO GET THESE
00:07:47BENEFITS? >> SIGNIFICANTLY SHRINK THE POOL
00:07:51OF PEOPLE THAT GET BENEFITS THROUGH MEDICAID. WE'RE ALREADY
00:07:55SEEING THAT HAPPENING. AND THE I THINK THE CRITICAL POINT HERE IS
00:07:58THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO GET MEDICAID ALREADY WORK, THE
00:08:02VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO GET
00:08:03MEDICAID ALREADY WORK AND HAVE
00:08:07JOBS, OR ARE IN SCHOOL OR MEET
00:08:09THESE REQUIREMENTS FOR VOLUNTEERING. THE ISSUE WITH THE
00:08:12WORK REQUIREMENT IS REALLY THAT IT CREATES RED TAPE, THAT IT
00:08:16REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT, UH,
00:08:19SUBMISSION OF ENROLLMENT FORMS, AND IT REQUIRES THAT THE STATES
00:08:22BE ABLE TO FIND AND, AND CONTACT
00:08:25THESE PEOPLE THROUGH MECHANISMS THAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE.
00:08:28THESE ARE FOLKS WHO MAY MOVE
00:08:31VERY OFTEN, THEIR INCOMES MAY FLUCTUATE. THEY MAY HAVE, THEY
00:08:35MAY HAVE MULTIPLE JOBS IN ORDER TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES. SO THIS
00:08:38IS, IT'S REALLY MORE OF A RED TAPE REQUIREMENT THAN IT IS A
00:08:41WORK REQUIREMENT, BECAUSE THEY
00:08:43WERE ALREADY WORKING. SO THE, THE IMPACT IS GOING TO BE
00:08:46SUBSTANTIAL IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE LOSING THEIR
00:08:50COVERAGE THROUGH MEDICAID BECAUSE OF THIS, THIS NEW REQUIREMENT THAT'S GONE INTO PLACE.
00:08:54>> NOW, I WANT TO INVITE OUR VIEWERS TO JOIN IN ON THE
00:08:56CONVERSATION. WE HAVE A VET HERE, FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN
00:09:00THE OBAMA HHS OFFICE OF HEALTH
00:09:02REFORM, ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS
00:09:06ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF HEALTH CARE AND WHAT THAT MEANS
00:09:08FOR THE 2026 CAMPAIGN.
00:09:10REPUBLICANS, YOUR LINE(
00:09:14202) 748-8001. DEMOCRATS, YOUR
00:09:14LINE. 202) 748-8000. AND
00:09:20DEPENDANCE.( 202) 748-8002. START CALLING IT NOW SO YOU CAN GET IN THE QUEUE. AND ASK YVETTE
00:09:24A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TURN TO SOME QUESTIONS. QUICKLY,
00:09:27I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE A C A, OBVIOUSLY, SOMETHING THAT
00:09:31HAPPENED DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS STAYED SINCE
00:09:33THEN, BUT HAS FACED SOME
00:09:37DIFFICULTIES GOING FORWARD. I
00:09:39WONDER, UH, THE, THE CONGRESS
00:09:42ALLOWED THE ACA PREMIUM
00:09:44SUBSIDIES TO EXPIRE AT THE END
00:09:46OF LAST YEAR. UH, WHAT DO YOU
00:09:50MAKE OF THE STATUS OF THE A C A WITH THAT PROVISION NOW EXPIRED?
00:09:54>> RIGHT. SO AND, AND JUST, JUST
00:09:56AGAIN, TO REMIND THE VIEWERS,
00:09:58THE, THE, UH, THE FOLKS WHO BUY COVERAGE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE
00:10:02CARE ACT IN THE MARKETPLACES ARE PEOPLE WHO BUY COVERAGE ON THEIR
00:10:06OWN. THEY DO NOT GET COVERAGE OFFERED THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER.
00:10:09SO THESE ARE, THESE ARE SMALL
00:10:11BUSINESS OWNERS. THESE ARE
00:10:14FARMERS, CAREGIVERS, EARLY RETIREES. THESE ARE FOLKS WHO
00:10:18HAVE NO OTHER PLACE TO GO TO
00:10:19PURCHASE THEIR COVERAGE. THE, THE ENHANCED TAX CREDITS THAT
00:10:24YOU JUST REFERENCED THAT WERE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE OBAMA AND
00:10:27BIDEN ERAS. THEY THROUGH THE
00:10:30MARKETPLACES, THEY RESULTED IN
00:10:32THE LOWEST RATE OF UNINSURED IN
00:10:35THIS, THAT THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER
00:10:36SEEN. WE WERE AT WE WERE AT NEAR
00:10:39FULL, FULL COVERAGE IN THIS
00:10:41COUNTRY. AND THEN WHEN REPUBLICANS CUT THOSE TAX
00:10:44CREDITS, WE HAVE SEEN SIGNIFICANT LOSSES IN THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO
00:10:48PURCHASE THAT COVERAGE BECAUSE THEY LOST THAT ASSISTANCE. SO
00:10:52WE'RE WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT
00:10:55ABOUT CLOSE TO 4 MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT
00:10:58COVERAGE. UM, BEEN THERE NOW,
00:11:02UNABLE TO AFFORD THAT COVERAGE.
00:11:04THE HEADLINES ARE PILING UP FROM CALIFORNIA TO VIRGINIA OF PEOPLE
00:11:08WHO CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THE
00:11:10COVERAGE, SINCE THOSE TAX CREDITS WERE WERE TAKEN AWAY,
00:11:14THE HOSPITALS ARE ARE REPORTING HUGE SURGES IN THE NUMBER OF
00:11:17UNINSURED PATIENTS THAT THEY'RE SEEING, SEEING. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PROTECT OUR CARE
00:11:21DOES IS COLLECT THESE KINDS OF STORIES. UM, FOR, FROM THESE
00:11:24SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, THESE FARMERS, THESE CAREGIVERS WHO
00:11:27HAVE HAD THEIR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE JEOPARDIZED BY THOSE
00:11:30CUTS. WE'VE SEEN A, YOU KNOW, A TWO TIME CANCER SURVIVOR IN
00:11:33GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, GOING UNINSURED AND WAITING TO AGE
00:11:38INTO MEDICARE AFTER HER PREMIUMS
00:11:41SKYROCKETED TO TO $1,000 A MONTH, A GRANDMOTHER IN GEORGIA
00:11:44WHO LOOKS AFTER HER GRANDSON WITH AUTISM, WHO'S NOW
00:11:47UNINSURED, WITH HER PREMIUM
00:11:49HAVING QUADRUPLED. SO THESE ARE THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT CUTS TO
00:11:53THE, THE, THE TAX CREDITS THAT PEOPLE WERE GETTING WHO ARE NOW
00:11:56UNABLE TO AFFORD THIS COVERAGE
00:11:57ON THE MARKETPLACE AND ARE GOING UNINSURED.
00:12:01>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TURN TO SOME PHONE CALLS. VIRGINIA, FROM TUCSON, ARIZONA, A GOOD MORNING,
00:12:05VIRGINIA
00:12:08>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL. UM, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR
00:12:12YVETTE. UM, REGARDING, THE,
00:12:16WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THIS. THIS IS ONE BIG REASON
00:12:20THAT I'M VOTING FOR DEMOCRATS IN
00:12:23THE FALL. AND I'M HOPING THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SEES IT IN
00:12:26THEIR BEST INTEREST TO VOTE FOR
00:12:28A PARTY THAT WILL ACTUALLY DO
00:12:32SOMETHING. AS FAR AS, UM,
00:12:36RESTORING THE BENEFITS FOR THE
00:12:37AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. AND AS FAR
00:12:41AS PUSHING THE IDEA OF HEALTH
00:12:44CARE FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS COUNTRY. AND, AND IF YOU
00:12:48DON'T VOTE DEMOCRAT, YOU HAVE
00:12:48NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER OF MAKING
00:12:52SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET BANKRUPT WHEN THEY, WHEN THEY
00:12:56RUN INTO A MEDICAL CRISIS. UM,
00:12:58THE QUESTION I HAVE TO ASK FOR
00:13:00YVETTE, HAS TO DO WITH EFFORTS
00:13:04TO, UM, WHAT CAN WE DO TO
00:13:09ENCOURAGE MORE DOCTORS TO TAKE
00:13:11ON THE PATIENTS WHO HAVE
00:13:15OBAMACARE AND MEDICARE AND, AND,
00:13:16AND THE MEDICAID, UH, PATIENTS
00:13:22SO THAT THERE ARE SUFFICIENT
00:13:24DOCTORS OUT THERE. WHAT, WHAT
00:13:26CAN WE DO IN THAT REGARD? >> YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE
00:13:30QUESTION, VIRGINIA. THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I, I, I DO THINK
00:13:32THAT WE CAN START BY NOT
00:13:35CUTTING, TAKING $1 TRILLION OUT
00:13:37OF THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, AS THEY DID IN THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,
00:13:41REALLY RESTRICTS THE STATES ABILITIES TO REIMBURSE, UH,
00:13:45PHYSICIANS AND OTHER PROVIDERS
00:13:47AT A LEVEL THAT MAKES IT LIVABLE FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY SEE THESE
00:13:50PATIENTS. SO WE HAVE TO START BY
00:13:54RESTORING THAT TRILLION DOLLAR CUT. AND AS YOU SAY, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO GET
00:13:58DEMOCRATS INTO OFFICE. I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION
00:14:02ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TRAINING DOCTORS AND THE WORKFORCE. THE
00:14:06NUMBER OF PEOPLE GOING INTO, UM,
00:14:07INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND OTHER OTHER PROVIDER LEVELS SO THAT WE
00:14:11HAVE A SUFFICIENT LEVEL OF ACCESS, BUT WE REALLY HAVE TO
00:14:14START BY MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT THE FUNDING IN THESE
00:14:19PROGRAMS. THAT'S ESSENTIAL TO, TO REIMBURSEMENT RATES, TO MAKE
00:14:20SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS.
00:14:23>> DJ FROM TEXAS, A REPUBLICAN.
00:14:28GOOD MORNING. DJ. >> HI, THANKS FOR TAKING MY
00:14:29CALL. I ORIGINALLY CALLED FOR THE CAMPAIGN AND WHAT PUSHED MY
00:14:33VOTE. AND, AND I SAW HEALTH CARE. I GOT A COMMENT ABOUT THAT
00:14:36TOO, BUT, UH, AS FAR AS
00:14:39CAMPAIGNING, WHAT PUSHES MY
00:14:42VOTE? UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF
00:14:43PEOPLE JUST IGNORE, THEY DON'T
00:14:46EVEN UNDERSTAND FISCAL IMPACT
00:14:49MEANS. THEY DON'T LOOK AT THE BILLS, THEY DON'T LOOK AT ANYTHING. THEY JUST VOTE ON
00:14:53THEIR EMOTIONS. YOU KNOW, FISCAL
00:14:55IMPACT IS THE REASON WHY WE'RE
00:14:58IN THE POSITION WE'RE IN WITH
00:15:00OUR DEBT. THE REASON WHY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND MANY, MANY,
00:15:03MANY STATES, IN FACT, I'D LOVE
00:15:07TO SEE C-SPAN PUT UP A GRAPH. LET'S GO CITY BY CITY.
00:15:10>> OKAY, DJ, I'M GOING TO JUMP
00:15:12IN HERE AND SAY, UH, AND, AND ASK YOU TO SAY YOUR COMMENT ON
00:15:16HEALTH CARE. SINCE WE HAVE A VET HERE. >> OKAY. WELL, YOU KNOW, KEEP IN
00:15:19MIND WHEN YOU'RE VOTING A FISCAL
00:15:23IMPACT, OKAY, THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE YOUR VOTE NEEDS TO BE PUSHED. OKAY. SO AS FAR AS
00:15:26HEALTH CARE GOES, UH, YOU KNOW
00:15:33ALL FOR HAVING INSURANCE. UM, I HAVE INSURANCE FOR MY CAR. I
00:15:35HAVE A DRIVER'S LICENSE. SO
00:15:39THAT'S A PRIVILEGE. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO DRIVE. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO OWN A CAR. SO YOU
00:15:43HAVE TO HAVE INSURANCE. I HAVE A
00:15:45HOME. YOU BETTER INSURE YOUR
00:15:47HOME. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO OWN A HOME. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE
00:15:51A HOME. IT'S A PRIVILEGE. YOU NEED TO INSURE THAT PRIVILEGE. I
00:15:55DON'T KNOW HOW MANY. WHAT WAS
00:15:57IT? TWO, TWO AND A HALF DECADES AGO WERE BEING FORCED INTO
00:16:00HEALTH CARE. WELL, I GUESS LIVING IS A PRIVILEGE. IT'S A
00:16:04PRIVILEGE TO BE A HUMAN BEING AND BE ALIVE NOW, I GUESS. AND
00:16:08WE'RE FORCED TO BUY THIS PRODUCT TO COVER OUR HEALTH
00:16:11CARE. I'VE HAD HEALTH CARE THROUGH THE TEAMSTERS UP UNTIL
00:16:15ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. I WAS A
00:16:18TEAMSTER FOR FOR FILM AND TELEVISION INDUSTRY PRIOR TO
00:16:22THAT. AND I'M STILL A MEMBER OF THE SCREEN ACTORS GUILD. IT'S
00:16:24ALL BASED ON YOUR INCOME GOING
00:16:27TO QUALIFY FOR YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE OR NOT. IF YOU DON'T
00:16:31QUALIFY, THEY CAN OFFER YOU THE
00:16:32COBRA IT'S QUITE EXPENSIVE.
00:16:35AND, UM, HEALTH CARE AS A WHOLE IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. I
00:16:39PERSONALLY, FOR THE LAST THREE AND A HALF YEARS, HAVE BEEN
00:16:43PAYING FOR MY HEALTH CARE CASH
00:16:44OUT OF POCKET, AND I'VE SAVED
00:16:47MYSELF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. AND I HAVE HEALTH CONDITIONS. I HAVE
00:16:51HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. I HAVE TO GO IN AND SEE THE DOCTOR ALL THE
00:16:54TIME FOR RENEWALS OF MY BLOOD
00:16:56PRESSURE MEDICINE, MY HIGH CHOLESTEROL MEDICINE. I ALSO
00:17:00HAVE SKIN CANCER. I'VE HAD
00:17:05MANY, SEVERAL DEFORMING UH, MOST
00:17:07SURGERIES TO REMOVE SKIN CANCER
00:17:10FROM MY FACE, MY ARMS ALL OVER.
00:17:14I'VE HAD TWO PROCEDURES
00:17:18>> ME PUSH YOU A LITTLE BIT. IF, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A
00:17:22SPECIFIC COMMENT FOR A VET TO, TO ANSWER.
00:17:24>> ANY PAYING CASH AND NOT BEING
00:17:28FORCED TO BUY A PRODUCT. OKAY, SO HEALTH CARE ISN'T WHAT IT'S
00:17:32ALL CRACKED UP TO BE. MY MOTHER IS A, IS A FORMER.
00:17:35>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S LET YVETTE GET IN HERE AND ANSWER THIS.
00:17:39>> WELL, I, I MEAN, I, I, I, I,
00:17:41I'M SORRY THAT YOU'RE DEALING
00:17:43WITH SKIN CANCER. AND ON OTHER
00:17:47ILLNESSES. THAT'S, THAT'S, UM, THAT'S A HORRIBLE SITUATION.
00:17:50AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE KIND OF THING YOU NEED HEALTH INSURANCE
00:17:53TO PROTECT YOU AGAINST THOSE KINDS OF CATASTROPHIC COSTS THAT
00:17:56COME UP FOR EVERYBODY. I, I
00:18:00WOULD JUST AS A REMINDER FOR, AGAIN, FOR THE VIEWERS THAT
00:18:04BEFORE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT WAS PASSED, DJ, IF YOU HAD SKIN
00:18:07CANCER OR YOU HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, OR YOU HAD ANY OF
00:18:11THOSE, THOSE INDICATIONS YOU JUST MENTIONED, YOU WOULD NOT
00:18:14HAVE BEEN OFFERED. THOSE ARE
00:18:16PREEXISTING CONDITIONS. AND YOU
00:18:20WOULD YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN DECLINED. THE EVEN THE OFFER OF HEALTH INSURANCE, LET ALONE
00:18:23AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE. SO I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT, THAT YOU CAN NOW
00:18:27ACCESS HEALTH INSURANCE. AND YOU'RE CORRECT. YOU'RE PAYING
00:18:30TOO MUCH FOR IT. AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO MAKE HEALTH
00:18:34CARE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYONE. UM, IN THIS COUNTRY
00:18:38BY, BY LOWERING THE COSTS OF
00:18:40HEALTH CARE. AND YOU CAN'T DO
00:18:42THAT BY CUTTING THE HEALTH COVERAGE PROGRAMS BY $1
00:18:46TRILLION. WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS RESTORE THAT FUNDING. AND
00:18:49ACTUALLY MAKE HEALTH CARE AND
00:18:52HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY A
00:18:55FOCUS OF THE ELECTION AND WHO YOU'RE ELECTING. AND I THINK
00:18:58FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, DEMOCRATS
00:19:00ARE FOCUSED ON THE ISSUE OF AFFORDABILITY AND YOUR ECONOMIC
00:19:04CIRCUMSTANCE AND HOW WE MAKE THAT ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCE
00:19:08BETTER. NOT NOT OTHER OTHER
00:19:11THINGS. WARS OF CHOICE AND BALLROOMS, ET CETERA.. SO WE'RE,
00:19:15WE'RE FOCUSED ON DELIVERING FOR
00:19:17YOU AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE PRODUCT THAT DOESN'T REQUIRE YOU
00:19:21TO MAKE THOSE CHOICES BETWEEN YOUR HOME INSURANCE, YOUR CAR
00:19:24INSURANCE, AND YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO
00:19:27AFFORD ALL OF THOSE THINGS FOR
00:19:31EXACTLY THE REASON YOU JUST STATED, WHICH IS THAT IF YOU GET
00:19:33SICK, YOU NEED THAT PEACE OF MIND TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'LL BE
00:19:37ABLE TO GET THE CARE THAT YOU NEED. >> I MEAN, SPEAKING OF
00:19:40DEMOCRATS, UH, AN AXIOS POLL
00:19:44FROM JUNE SHOWED THAT 45% OF
00:19:48THOSE RESPONDENTS, UM, SAID THEY
00:19:48WERE MORE LIKELY WHEN ASKED
00:19:52ABOUT THE LIKELIHOOD OF VOTING
00:19:54FOR A CANDIDATE THAT SUPPORTS REINSTATING ENHANCED ACA
00:19:57SUBSIDIES,