Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
GOP Believes Some People 'Just Don't Deserve Health Care,' Democrats Say In Pointed Rebuttal
In responding to President Trump鈥檚 address to Congress on Tuesday, Democrats had to navigate between the expectations of their angry base in America鈥檚 cities and the need to appeal to a broader array of voters in parts of the country where the president is far more popular. The party handed that task to former Gov. Steven L. Beshear of Kentucky. ... Mr. Beshear noted that the Americans who had gained health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, a law he championed in his state, were the sort of 鈥渇riends and neighbors鈥 he surrounded himself with in the diner. (Martin, 3/1)
"You and your Republican allies in Congress seem determined to rip affordable health insurance away from millions of Americans who most need it," Beshear said. Republicans believe lower-income people "just don't deserve health care, that it's somehow their fault" they lacked it, Beshear said. Twenty million Americans have gained coverage under Obama's law. (Fram and Freking, 3/1)
It was a direct shot at Trump's support among working-class Americans, many of whom have benefited from the Affordable Care Act's coverage expansion. And it came from a 72-year-old ex-governor sitting in a Kentucky diner, a departure from the typical practice of choosing a rising star to give the party's response. (Diamond, 2/28)
Mr. Trump in his remarks to Congress anticipated Mr. Beshear鈥檚 defense of the health-care law. He cited Mr. Beshear鈥檚 successor as evidence the Affordable Care Act failed in Kentucky. 鈥淕overnor Matt Bevin of Kentucky just said Obamacare is failing in his state, the state of Kentucky, it is unsustainable and collapsing,鈥 Mr. Trump said. (Epstein, 2/28)
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., burst into laughter during an interview when asked about President Donald Trump's recent claim that "nobody knew that health care could be so complicated." Trump made the comment in a White House meeting with dozens of governors Monday. While discussing his promise to completely overhaul the Affordable Care Act, the president told the governors, "It's an unbelievably complex subject. Nobody knew that health care could be so complicated." (Martichoux, 2/28)
