Rep. Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) exchanged strong words with CNN Anchor Chris Cuomo on Friday over President Donald Trump's executive order that suspended subsidy payments to Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurers.
The back and forth began with Cuomo saying the Republicans' actions were being conducted on the "backs of the most needy." He argued cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments are "really important in stabilizing health care for people who need help," and by suspending payments, Republicans are causing the problems with Obamacare.
Jordan, however, called the CSR payments "unconstitutional," and said Obamacare was a mess well before CSR payment were suspended.
"You can’t stabilize this thing, it's already falling apart. That is what everyone understands," Jordan said.
Cuomo, nonetheless, blamed Republicans for making Obamacare "fall apart" by pulling subsides, shrinking the enrollment period, and messing with the rollout of the plan. Jordan, in turn, brought up the fact that Obamacare was passed by misleading the American people.
"Chris think about your logic. You're saying the folks who passed this law, who told us nine different statements that were absolutely false. The architect told us on camera that, yeah, we mislead the American people," Jordon said. "The thing is falling apart, and now you're saying President Trump, by stopping an unconstitutional activity, is somehow the cause of the problem? That makes absolutely no sense."
While Cuomo and Jordan agreed nobody would argue Obamacare is perfect, they continued to disagree on just about everything else, including the argument being made.
"You're arguing that imperfection – and nobody would argue ACA is perfect," Cuomo started.
"Yeah that's for sure," Jordan said.
"[You're arguing] the imperfection is now going to be the enemy to any progress at all," Cuomo said.
"No, I'm arguing we should do what we said," Jordan said. "And that is what the president is doing. We should do what we said; we should repeal it and replace it."