Support for Obamacare sunk to 29 percent in the latest Associated Press poll. The widespread dissatisfaction with President Obama’s signature achievement is one reason Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) has developed health care reform that puts patients first rather than government.
Price, chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, understands health care better than most. Before coming to Congress, he spent nearly 20 years in private practice as an orthopedic surgeon. He’s now using the lessons from that experience to undo the damage of Obamacare by promoting a plan called the Empowering Patients First Act.
In a sit-down interview at Heritage this week, he shared his thoughts on the contrast between Obamacare and his patient-centered plan.
“What we do is make it so that every single American has the opportunity to have health coverage that he or she wants and selects, not that the government wants for them,” Price explained, noting that his plan is not a mandate like the one in Obamacare.
During the interview, Price also discussed efforts to repeal Obamacare and the implications of a Supreme Court decision next year.
“If I had my druthers, we’d vote to repeal [Obamacare] every single week,” Price said. “At every single turn where we have an opportunity, understanding that this is divided government, we have done what we could do to turn back the clock on this piece of legislation.”
He gave the class of Republican freshmen an A+ for their work in Congress.
“What the 89 freshman have done is change the entire dynamic in Washington,” he said. “We’re now talking about, and the country is talking about, where to reduce spending, where to increase government efficiencies, where to decrease the size and scope and reach of government. … They’ve given new life to conservative principles, they’ve given new life to a responsible government and individual liberty and freedom.”
The interview runs about 6 minutes. Hosted by Rob Bluey and produced by Brandon Stewart. For more videos from Heritage, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
