On Thursday, a House Republican from New York and a top aide to the president, Chris Collins, admitted live on national television that he didn’t even bother reading Trump care before voting on it. Collins said his assistants did, however.
I will fully admit, Wolf, I did not, but I can also assure you my staff did,”
he told CNN’s anchor Wolf Blitzer Thursday.
Collins also said that his and his colleagues rely on their staff, and anyone in the House who would say that he had read “every word” of it would be lying. “I wouldn’t be telling you the truth,” if I said I did, Collins continued.
On the other hand, the GOP lawmaker thinks that he has understood Trumpcare “in its entirety” from his staff members and congressional committees. He bragged that he did so by not having to “pour through” every single word of the legislation. “I’m just being quite honest. That’s the way it is,” Collins added.
Democrats Slam Congressman Collins
Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut, mocked the lawmaker on Twitter for his brutal honesty:
And now you’re very very famous. pic.twitter.com/7ihtfhUgaQ
— Jim Himes (@jahimes) May 4, 2017
Rep. Ted Lieu (D.-Calif.) was more supportive. He tweeted that he had read the bill and at least two of its provisions “suck.”
Dear Chris Collins: I read the bill. It sucks. Trumpcare lets insurers charge seniors 5 times more & hurts people w/ pre-existing conditions https://t.co/3sBaaRAXQy
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 4, 2017
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act aka Trumpcare by a 217 to 213 vote on May 4. The bill is now heading to the Senate where it is expected to face staunch opposition.
No House Democrat voted for the bill as they consider it an “abominable” measure that grants huge tax cuts to the rich and strips the sick, the elderly, and children with special needs of much-needed healthcare. Surprisingly, 20 Republicans voted against the bill.
You can watch Collins here:
Rep. Collins admits he wasn’t able to read entire health care bill and had to rely on staff https://t.co/5NN39ElZAj https://t.co/UmK3tuCfFC
— CNN (@CNN) May 4, 2017
