On Andrea Mitchell Reports, Leader Pelosi Blasts Republicans' Mean Graham-Cassidy Trumpcare Bill
Leader Pelosi also discussed the Trump Administration's latest version of their immoral and dangerous Muslim and refugee ban which prioritizes cruel discrimination before our national security, as well as President Trump's belligerent rhetoric empowering North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
Below are the highlights.
On Republicans' Dangerous Graham-Cassidy Trumpcare Bill:
"The fact is that what they've done in this bill, as bad as the other bill was, they've made it worse in terms of pre-existing conditions, just to say on that. In terms of Medicaid, which affects many people with pre-existing conditions, it makes matters worse. But it's interesting to note the following: when they say people are covered with pre-existing, you can get insurance for pre-existing conditions; if you happen to have advanced cancer, it will cost you nearly $150,000."
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"…so that's the horror of it all. Oh, yes, it doesn't prevent people from selling it to you if you have $150,000 or, a heart condition, $50,000. I don't know who they're talking to but that isn't a guarantee of access if you have pre-existing conditions."
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"I think it's really important, as people are weighing in – and, again, the outside advocacy groups of patient groups and the rest, moms telling the stories about their children, children telling their own stories, that is what persuaded the Senate the last time. We hope that that will have an impact, that the people's voices will be heard. As we do our inside maneuvering, that outside mobilization is essential."
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"So I think it will lose in the Senate. But it's not over yet. So all of the advocacy is essential."
On the Trump Administration's Latest Muslim and Refugee Ban:
"It's still a Muslim Ban and it's worse than the previous Muslim ban. It's unfortunate. It's really important to note – I've been in Congress since President Reagan so I'll speak to that. President Reagan – when Congress acted on immigration, he said, ‘you aren't good enough. I'm going to do more with Family Fairness.' He protected more people. President George Herbert Walker Bush continued that. President Clinton. President George W. Bush, one of the best Presidents in respecting immigrants in the revitalization of America they provide [and] President Obama following in that tradition. This is the first Presidents in 30 years or longer, but just in modern time, who has been anti-immigrant and it's really a very sad thing."
"Hopefully, he'll be pro-DREAMers and that will take him down a path to comprehensive immigration reform and understanding that the optimism and hope and courage of newcomers to our country are what make America more American."
On Trump's Irresponsible Rhetoric with North Korea:
"The President of the United States is we've always said the leader of the free world. The President of the United States – I hate to see him giving a platform to Kim Jong-un. It's really – [Kim Jong-un] is so beneath the dignity of this discussion, about the safety of the world."
"I'm one of the few people in Congress who has been to Pyongyang. What I'm concerned about is the following. I think Kim Jong-un is a bully. I don't think he's going to ever do any of these things. Anything he does has a return address. He must know that it's bad news for his people – should he do anything."
"But what I'm concerned about when I was there what they told me is – we talked to them about stopping their missile production. They said, ‘we just make them to sell them. You want to buy them? We'll sell them to you.' I'm concerned about Kim [Jung-un] as a proliferator. This is his dog and pony show showing people, ‘I have the technology; I have the scientific know how; I have the launch capacity. You want to buy some from me?' That makes the world an even more dangerous place in addition to his tests which are harmful to the environment, so he is a bad actor."
"The President of the United States shouldn't be engaged in that kind of tit-for-tat with somebody as dreadful as [Kim Jong-un] is. We always have to speak to our opponents and the rest – but to give him – to elevate him to a place that he has. I think was not the right path for the President of the United States to take."