Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) suggested the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or "Obamacare") subsidies that caused a government shutdown should be extended for a year during a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria, saying because "at the end of the day, it is going to be hardworking Americans that are depending on ACA for their coverage."
With healthcare costs expected to rise, substitute host Cheryl Casone asked Rep. Gimenez if Republicans in Congress or the Trump Administration should take the lead in solving the issue.
"I think that we should cooperate with the administration and get to a plan," Rep. Gimenez replied, noting that he had previously sponsored legislation to extend the subsidies because "at the end of the day, it is going to be hardworking Americans that are depending on ACA for their coverage, that are going to be left holding the bag on the expiring subsidies."
However, he clarified that the subsidies should still "expire at one time," as "the Affordable Care Act is not affordable anymore. It is unaffordable, the Act does not work." Thus, extending the subsidies is a stopgap measure while a new system is proposed and implemented.
As a result, the Florida congressman said, "it could be an incredible win for the Republicans to fix what has been broken for so many years," and thus the GOP needs to "get in front of it and prove to the American people that we can govern."
In November, Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL) suggested that Republicans need to "think outside the box" to solve the healthcare crisis, saying, "Republicans came together and we started looking at why we have just added another trillion dollars to our national debt in the fastest period in the history of our country."
Moreover, she continued, "There is money going out to insurance companies like you wouldn't believe, there are people signing up on ghost policies, there is fraud all over the place, money is going to pay for illegal immigrants to get healthcare."
