Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the incoming Senate minority leader, on Tuesday morning slammed Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), citing Price’s support for privatizing Medicare and opposition to Obamacare.
“Congressman Price has proven to be far out of the mainstream of what Americans want when it comes to Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and Planned Parenthood. Thanks to those three programs, millions of American seniors, families, people with disabilities and women have access to quality, affordable health care. Nominating Congressman Price to be the HHS secretary is akin to asking the fox to guard the hen house,” Schumer said in a statement.
Schumer has signaled that he will put up a fight against Republicans if they pursue plans to repeal Obamacare and privatize Medicare. He told the Associated Press earlier this month that Republicans will “rue the day” they try to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
“It’s a political nightmare for them. They’ll be like the dog that caught the bus,” he said.
Last week, Schumer warned Republicans against privatizing Medicare.
“The Republicans’ ideological and visceral hatred of government could deny millions of senior citizens across the country the care they need and deserve,” he said in a statement. “To our Republican colleagues considering this path, Democrats say: make our day. Your effort will fail, and this attack on our seniors will not stand.”
