Chris Cuomo Debates Sen. Cassidy on Kimmel’s Behalf: ‘You Can’t Allow Insurance Companies to Cherrypick’

Cassidy: “I am sorry he doesn’t understand’

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EXCERPT:

CUOMO: "Senate Republicans are making a last ditch effort to repeal ObamaCare with the Graham-Cassidy bill. One of the men behind it is Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana. He's previously said he'd only support a bill that past what he coined the Jimmy Kimmel test. Jimmy Kimmel himself does not think that's the case."
[clip starts]
KIMMEL: "I don’t know what happened to Bill Cassidy, but when he was on this publicity tour he listed his demands for a health care bill very clearly. These were his words. He said he wants coverage for all, no discrimination based on pre-existing conditions, lower premiums for middle class families and no lifetime caps. And guess what? The new bill does none of those things. ... And this guy, Bill Cassidy, just lied right to my face. Do you believe that every American regardless of income should be able to get regular checkups, maternity care, et cetera, all of those things that people who have health care get and need?"
CASSIDY: "Yep."
KIMMEL: "So yep is Washington for nope, I guess. (Laughter) ... Stop using my name, OK? Because I don’t want my name on it. There’s a new Jimmy Kimmel test for you, and it’s called the lie detector test and you are welcome to stop by the studio and take it anytime." (Cheering and Applause)
[clip ends]
CUOMO: “Harsh words, not apparently in just. And Joining us now is Senator Bill Cassidy. What is your response, senator?”
CASSIDY: “I am sorry he doesn’t understand. Under Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson more people will have coverage and we protest those with pre-existing conditions. States like Maine, Virginia, Florida, Missouri, there will be billions more dollars to provide health insurance coverage for those in those states who have been passed by ObamaCare and we protect those with pre-existing conditions.”
CUOMO: “Well the counter argument will be pre-existing conditions will be up to the pricing of the particular state and market. So it’s not what it is now where you can’t allow insurance companies to cherrypick and punish people for pre-existing conditions. So the protection is not the same, senator, on that one point.”

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