October 15, 2017

The official talking point from the White House is that Donald Trump, frustrated that the Republican majority wasn't able to pull it together to erase Obamacare in his never-ending quest to undo President Obama's legacy, decided to use an executive order to force both parties in Congress to the table to figure out a new healthcare plan. He claimed it was by eliminating wasteful "handouts" to the health insurance companies, which, like pretty much everything that comes out of his mouth, a big fat lie.

And since this is the gang that can't even destroy democracy competently, the real motivation was openly and proudly revealed by Trump whisperer and devoted Leninist Steve Bannon, who told the Values Voter Summit attendees that they were intentionally trying to "blow up" Obamacare by eliminating subsidies.

So it's no surprise that Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), one of the few Republicans in the Senate willing to put her constituents' lives ahead of partisan concerns by consistently voting against the Republicans' laughable replacement plans, wasn't toeing the official line.

COLLINS: The debate in Washington has been on whether or not to repeal and replace Obamacare in the future.

What the president is doing is affecting the ability of vulnerable people to receive health care right now.

This is not a bailout of the insurers. What this money is used for is to help low-income people afford their deductibles and their co-pays, so that their health care is available to them.

In addition, the president has taken steps to cut off funding to reach people who are eligible for subsidies under the ACA.

So, these certainly are very disruptive moves that will result in smaller numbers of people being insured that will make it more difficult for low income people to afford their out-of-pocket costs and that will destabilize the insurance markets.

TAPPER: Well, not to put too fine a point on it, Senator, but you're saying that President Trump is taking actions that will hurt American citizens.

COLLINS: I do believe that. I'm very concerned about what the impact is going to be for people who make under 250 percent of the federal poverty level because the funding that is available under the cost- sharing reductions is used to subsidize their out-of-pocket costs. And if they can't afford their deductible, then their insurance is pretty much useless.

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