Asked to explain a Republican alternative to Obamacare in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) managed to contradict himself within a span of about 90 seconds.
Wenstrup began by describing the House Republican Study Committee’s bill, which he co-sponsored. That bill would give people tax deductions to purchase health insurance on their own rather than relying on employer-provider coverage, which accounts for the largest share of the market (48 percent). It also lacks support from House GOP leadership, which hasn’t allowed it to come to a vote.
“We would like individuals to be able to get a tax deduction by purchasing insurance on their own,” Wenstrup said. “That way it gives them much more portability. They can go from job to job and keep their insurance.”
But less than two minutes later, as Wenstrup was attempting to explain how Republicans would provide care to those with pre-existing conditions, he seemed to re-endorse the employer-based system. He blamed Obamacare for keeping people out of jobs and therefore accessing employer-sponsored coverage — the very kind he had just boasted the GOP plan would free Americans from.
“The other thing that would really help us along the way is if we would do things within the economy that got people into jobs that had insurance,” he said. “There’s no greater social reform than having a job, but unfortunately within Obamacare, it’s doing a lot of things that take people away from their jobs or into part-time roles.”
The full video is below.
(h/t Washington Examiner)