A NEW POLITICAL MORNING CONSULT
POLL FINDS THAT 42% OF VOTERS
PLAN TO VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
ELECTIONS THIS YEAR.
41% WILL VOTE FOR THE
REPUBLICANS.
17% ARE UNSURE.
THOSE NUMBERS COULD CHANGE AND
STORIES LIKE THIS ARE PRESENTED
TO VOTERS.
TODAY, EVERY DEMOCRAT IN THE
HOUSE VOTED TO PASS THE
AFFORDABLE INSULIN NOW ACT
WHICH WOULD KEPT THE MONTHLY
COST OF INSULIN AT $35 STARTING
NEXT YEAR.
ALMOST EVERY REPUBLICAN VOTED
AGAINST THAT.
EVERY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP VOTED NO
TO 35 DOLLAR INSULIN.
MINORITY LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY
VOTED NO.
REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE CHAIR
ELISE STEFANIK VOTED NO.
THE BILL NOW HEADS TO THE
SENATE WHERE GEORGIA SENATOR
HAS INTRODUCED A COMPANION
BILL.
JOINING US NOW IS
REPRESENTATIVE LUCY MCBATH, THE
COSPONSOR OF TODAY'S BILL, WHO
VOTED YES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING
US TONIGHT.
WHAT WILL THIS BILL DO PEOPLE
THAT NEED INSULIN?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, LAWRENCE,
IT IS ALWAYS A JOY TO BE WITH
YOU.
THIS BILL IS VERY SIMPLE IN ITS
NATURE.
IT BASICALLY WILL LOWER DRUG
COSTS FOR MILLIONS OF
AMERICANS.
ABOUT 40 MILLION AMERICANS IN
THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE SUFFERING
FROM THE CHRONIC DISEASE OF
DIABETES.
THERE IS NO TIME OFF WHEN YOU
LIVE WITH THIS DISEASE.
IT IS A CONSTANT PRESENCE IN
THE LIVES OF ALMOST 40 MILLION
PEOPLE.
IT INFLUENCES EVERY ASPECT OF
THEIR LIVES.
SO, WE JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS
AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP MILLIONS
OF AMERICANS LOWER THE COST OF
SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED EVERY
SINGLE DAY TO SURVIVE.
I HOPE REPUBLICANS IN THE
SENATE WILL DO WHAT IS NEEDED
TO MAKE LIFE MORE AFFORDABLE,
AND THIS DRUG MORE AFFORDABLE
FOR THE FAMILIES.
>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT DIABETES
WAS A PARTISAN ISSUE.
DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING AND THE
REPUBLICAN ARGUMENT AGAINST
THIS?
>> YES, WE DID.
I HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN
THAT WE ARE NOT CONSIDERING THE
INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE UNINSURED.
THIS BILL DOES NOT PROTECT
THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE
INSURANCE.
AS I SAID TO MY REPUBLICAN
COLLEAGUES ON THE FLOOR TODAY,
YOU ARE RIGHT, IT DOES NOT.
THERE AGAIN, COME TO THE TABLE,
BUILD SOME COMPROMISE, SOME
CONSENSUS, HELP US TO DO THAT
VERY THING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE PUTTING FORTH A POLICY THAT
WILL PROTECT EVERY INDIVIDUAL
IN THIS COUNTRY, WHETHER THEY
HAVE INSURANCE OR NOT.
MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE
ACCESS TO THIS LIFESAVING DRUG
AND CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR.
GOING >> GOING FORWARD IN THE
SENATE, YOU HAVE TO PASS A BILL
AND RECONCILE IT WITH THE
HOUSE.
THERE IS PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY
STILL FOR REPUBLICANS TO DO THE
RIGHT THING BEGINNING IN THE
SENATE?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TODAY
BECAUSE WE DID HAVE 12
REPUBLICANS THAT ACTUALLY
AGREED WITH US.
IT DID MAKE THIS LEGISLATION
BIPARTISAN IN THE HOUSE.
WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE
SENATOR WARNOCK THERE IN THE
SENATE THAT IS CHAMPIONING THIS
VERY VITAL PIECE OF
LEGISLATION.
I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES AND I IN
THE HO SURE WE ARE
ENCOURAGING THE SENATE
REPUBLICANS A DO WHAT IS RIGHT.