John Kasich: Nation's 'soul' at stake in Obamacare repeal
CINCINNATI — The nation risks losing its "soul" if Republicans push through a health care plan that leaves millions with no insurance, Ohio Gov. John Kasich said on NBC's Meet The Press on Sunday.
Kasich, who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, has been vocal in urging Republicans to work with Democrats as they try to repeal the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. He warned in a New York Times op-ed last week that Republicans are repeating the mistakes of Democrats, trying to ram through a divisive health care plan — a point he reiterated Sunday.
"When you jam something through, just one party over another, it's not sustainable," he said on Meet The Press.
"We're talking about lives. ... We better be careful we're not losing the soul of our country because we're playing politics," he added.
Kasich warned the House bill could especially hurt the mentally ill and those addicted to drugs. And the proposed tax credits to buy insurance, he said, would not be enough for many families.
"Reform the system, but don't leave people behind," he said.
Related: John Kasich opposes GOP Obamacare repeal bill because of Medicaid phaseout
Other highlights:
• Kasich predicted the bill would pass the House, but be moderated in the Senate. And President Trump, he said, is "very open to compromise."
• Kasich, a possible 2020 presidential candidate, warned that the political parties are "disintegrating." But, he said, he's still a Republican.
The House Republicans' health bill would phase out Obamacare's Medicaid expansion starting Jan. 1, 2020. People covered under Medicaid expansion before that date then could continue, paid for in large part by the federal government, but states that expanded Medicaid wouldn't be able to add new people to that coverage group.
Related: Ohio Gov. John Kasich: House Republicans could foil Obamacare replacement
In 2013, Kasich maneuvered around many of Ohio's Republican lawmakers to expand Medicaid in his state as part of Obama's health care law. This year, as the GOP discussed repealing and replacing Obamacare, Kasich advocated against canceling Medicaid expansion outright.
More than 700,000 Ohioans signed up for Medicaid coverage under Obamacare. The health care law offered the government-paid health care to adults with annual incomes of up to 138% of the federal poverty guidelines — up to $16,643 for a single person using 2017 figures.
The federal government currently covers most of the cost of their health care. Without that help, Ohio would face two options: trying to scrape together taxpayer money to give those people health care coverage, or leaving them to find and pay for their own insurance coverage.
Contributing: Chrissie Thompson, The Cincinnati Enquirer. Follow Carl Weiser on Twitter: @cweiser