KENTUCKY. RAND, I'M GOING TO THROW YOU A
SOFTBALL QUESTION SINCE THE PRESIDENT'S BEING SO MEAN TO
YOU. YOU ACTUALLY I THINK COULD DO
REPUBLICANS A SERVICE HERE. ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS, CHIEF
COMPLAINTS I'VE HEARD FROM REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES
SINCE THIS ENTIRE HEALTH CARE DEBATE HAS BEGUN IS WHEN WE
FLASH UP HEADLINE WHERE IS THE CBO SAYS 32 MILLION PEOPLE WILL
LOSE THEIR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE IF THERE'S JUST A REPEAL, CAN
YOU EXPLAIN WHY THAT DESCRIPTION CONCERNS CONSERVATIVES WHO DON'T
BELIEVE THAT'S ACTUALLY AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION, IT'S MORE
CHOICE THAN JUST DUMPING 32 MILLION PEOPLE OFF THE ROLLS?
>> TRYING TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS A VERY UNCERTAIN SORT OF
GUESSING GAME. I THINK IN THE PAST THE CBO
TRIED TO GUESS HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD GET HEALTH INSURANCE
THROUGH OBAMACARE AND THEY WERE WILDLY OFF TO THE TUNE OF
MILLIONS OFF. NOW THEY'VE SAID LIKE, YOU KNOW,
32 MILLION, 23 MILLION, VARIOUS PERMUTATIONS OF MILLIONS OF
PEOPLE WILL LOSE IT. INTERESTINGLY, ONE OF THE BIG
PREMISES OF WHY PEOPLE LOSE IT IS THEY SAY IF YOU NO LONGER
HAVE THE INDIVIDUAL MANDATE, IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY A TAX TO
BUY YOUR INSURANCE, IF YOU'RE NOT BULLIED BY GOVERNMENT, 15
MILLION PEOPLE WOULDN'T BUY INSURANCE FOR THAT ONE FACT.
MAYBE. IT'S COMPLETE GUESSWORK.
I THINK WE CAN PUT TOO MUCH STOCK IN GUESSWORK.
IT'S MODELING AND FUTURE PREDICTIONS, LIKE ASTROLOGY, A
LOT OF GUESSWORK. >> SENATOR, JUST TO PULL BACK A
LITTLE BIT, I WONDER IF YOU THINK THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY
HAS MADE A GRAVE ERROR IN GETTING INTO THE BUSINESS OF
PROMISING TO EXPAND COVERAGE. THIS WAS NOT ALWAYS PART OF THE
CONSERVATIVE BIBLE. WHAT WE SEE HERE IS AN EFFORT BY
THE PARTY TO BUILD A HEALTH CARE PLAN THAT WILL KEEP THAT PROMISE
BUT DO IT THROUGH CONSERVATIVE MEANS.
IS IT THE JOB OF THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP INSURE THAT COVERAGE IS
EXPANDED IN THE FIRST PLACE? >> I THINK OVERPROMISING IS A
BIG PROBLEM AND PROMISING STUFF WE DIDN'T REALLY PROMISE DURING
THE ELECTION. WE PROMISED TO REPEAL AND GET
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUT OF IT.
DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S NOT A ROLE FOR GOVERNMENT.
WE THOUGHT NATIONALIZING IT IN WASHINGTON WAS TOO BUSY FOR THE
PEOPLE AND NOT DESTINED TO WORK. I THINK OVERPROMISING IS ANOTHER
PROBLEM. I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH
THE PRESIDENT AND OTHERS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
IF YOU CLAIM YOU'LL FIX HEALTH CARE, YOU HAVE A MISTAKEN
NOTION. HEALTH CARE WAS BROKEN BEFORE
OBAMACARE. I THINK IT GOT WORSE UNDER
OBAMACARE AND NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE BAD.
MAIN THING IS THE FUNDAMENTAL FLAW OF OBAMACARE IS GOING TO
REMAIN. THE FUNDAMENTAL FLAW IS YOU HAVE
MANDATES ON INSURANCE THAT CHASE YOUNG, HEALTHY PEOPLE OUT OF THE
MARKET BECAUSE IT MAKES INSURANCE EXPENSIVE, THEN YOU
TELL THEM, HEY, BUT IF YOU GET SICK, YOU CAN BUY IT AFTER
YOU'RE SICK. THIS ADVERSE SELECTION
CONTINUES. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WEAN THE
REPUBLICAN AND THE DEMOCRAT PLAN IS THE DEMOCRAT PLAN TRIED TO
GET YOU TO BUY INSURANCE THROUGH A MANDATE, GOVERNMENT FORCE.
THE REPUBLICAN PLAN IS GOING TO DUMP THE MONEY IN ON THE TAIL
END TO SUBSIDIZE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
I OBJECT TO BOTH. IN SOME WAYS IT'S ACTUALLY MORE
MORALLY REPREHENSIBLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT OR THE TAXPAYER TO BE
ASKED TO SUBSIDIZE INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT DOUBLE THEIR
PROFIT UNDER OBAMACARE AND NOW MAKE $15 BILLION A YEAR.
I JUST THINK IT'S A TERRIBLE AND A VERY UN-REPUBLICAN IDEA TO
GIVE A MAJOR CORPORATION TAXPAYER MONEY.
>> SENATOR, SORT OF A THRESHOLD QUESTION HERE.
DO YOU FAVOR THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDING AN AVENUE TO EVERY
AMERICAN TO HAVE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE HEALTH CARE?
>> I ACCEPT THE GOAL THAT WILL EVERYBODY SHOULD GET HEALTH CARE
AND IT SHOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE. I DON'T THINK THE GOVERNMENT
DOES A GOOD JOB AT DISTRIBUTING ANYTHING.
LOOK AT THE SOVIET UNION TRYING TO DELIVER BREAD.
THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOOD AT THINGS.
DO I WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE INSURANCE AT LOW COST?
YES. THE MAIN PROBLEM WE HAVE IN OUR
HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET IS IN THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET.
IF YOU WORK FOR IT TO TASHGS YOU WORK FOR GENERAL MOTORS OR FORD
YOU'RE PRETTY WELL PROTECTED. IF YOUR SPOUSE GETS SICK, YOU
DON'T LOSE YOUR INSURANCE OR YOUR JOB, YOUR RATES DON'T GO
UP. I WANT EVERYBODY IN AMERICA TO
HAVE GROUP INSURANCE. NERVE THAT INDIVIDUAL MARKET, I
WOULD LET THEM JOIN AN ASSOCIATION.
MY HOPE IS THE VAST MAJORITY IF NOT ALL THE PEOPLE FLEE THE
INDIVIDUAL MARKET AND YOU NO LONGER HAVE IT.
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO JOIN THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, THE
RETAILERS ASSOCIATION, THE CHAMBER, THE NFIB.
ALL KINDS OF ASSOCIATIONS COULD BE BUYERS AND PURCHASESERS OF
INSURANCE AND WE WOULD DEFEAT THE PROBLEM OF ADVERSE SELECTION
BY GETTING THE PEOPLE THE HELL OUT OF THE INDIVIDUAL MARKET.