Home Headlines

McConnell Blasts Obama's Health Care; Offers Alternatives

Posted: 7:36 PM Apr 13, 2012
Reporter: Michael Gossum

McConnell Blasts Obama's Health Care; Offers Alternatives

Senator Mitch McConnell (R) Kentucky made it no secret when the health care legislation was debated and passed, he didn't like it.

"We've cut 500 billion dollars out of doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, hospice providers, and added massive numbers of people to the roles. It was exactly the wrong thing to do," said McConnell.

That's a message Senator McConnell brought to several employees at the Ohio County hospital.

He spoke to them about health care, the problems with it, and about the president's remarks regarding the Supreme Court's ruling of the health care law.

"It was inappropriate. He was trying to intimidate the Supreme Court during a time of deliberation over what they're going to do in this case, completely inappropriate, and he ought to back off," said McConnell.

McConnell did comment on some things he'd like to change, if in fact the Supreme Court does rule the law unconstitutional.

"First, we have to deal with the health care we already have. Medicare itself is in deep trouble. It needs to be adjusted for future generations. We should do medical malpractice reform. We ought to engage the states to engage in innovative approaches, rather than have a one size fits all federal prescription for all of American health care," said McConnell.

State legislator Tommy Thompson (D) 14th District agrees with McConnell that there are problems with health care.

"If we have to go forward with the Obamacare, we've got to do a lot of things in Kentucky to set up our exchanges to be able to provide for the edicts of legislation, but I think it's got some flaws, I'd like to see it re-tooled. The majority of the people that have discussed with me don't like the plan, but on the other hand I think a lot of people recognize that we need to do something to address the cost and accessibility of health care," said Thompson.

Maybe lawmakers will get that chance after the Supreme Court's ruling.

WBKO also asked McConnell if he thought the republican presidential candidates going at each other for so long hurt his party's chances for the presidency.

"Well you never like a family fight but it happens every time you don't have an incumbent, but the party is all pulling together now," said McConnell.