middle will conclude that we at least ought to get on the bill. we need to have an opportunity next week to debate, open up the amendment process f our members don t like particular provisions in the bill, want to strike them or add something else, they ll get that opportunity, but it s important that we get on the bill because if we don t get on the bill, we re never going to have an opportunity to discuss this and debate this in the full senate and a chance to rescue the american people from what is a failing system and a collapsing marketplace. you guys included parts of the cruz amendment, it allows insurers to provide these skimpier plans to forego those ten essential plans covering things like prescriptions, maternity care, it looks like this was included to appease hardline republicans, those on the far right. do you personally support the cruz amendment? i like what he s trying to do. i think on the, you know, on the merits, on the surface, it makes a lot of sense. but obvi
exchange to clarify that. and the senate needs to act. the status quo of the collapsing marketplace is not acceptable and is not going to work for the american people. so i look forward to bringing back input for sharing with the senators. what specifically do you want to clarify to your voters that you think has been misinformation? well, i think the whole preexisting condition reform. i m an adamant supporter of the preexisting condition reform. people assume that s gone, that the legislation repeals that, and that s not true. the legislation is clear that is not the case. so that is something i think has caused a lot of fear, and rightfully so. but we need to look at the text and what we re trying to do. people are concerned about the cut in benefits. if people are concerned about losing essential health care benefits or having it be cut down in some way or having their premiums spike, maybe not losing those benefits but finding they re too expensive to afford,
american academy of actuaries. in addition, congressional budget office data shows while insurance marketplaces are smaller then it had initially expected, they are not in cbo s view anywhere near collapsing. so republicans insisting their plan will mean less coverage, higher cost and a massive tax cut for the rich. remember, just because they say obamacare is collapsing does not make it true. joining me now, republican congressman mo brooks of alabama. congressman, i want to start on the process here. it s been interesting to watch folks in your party, colleagues of yours, friends of yours object to the process house leadership is using. do you feel, as mike lee and others have contended, that they are moving too quickly and trying to jam this down your throats? well, i have some reservations about the process. i would have preferred that the drafting of this legislation be much more open than it has been. but nonetheless, there are going to be public hearings and committees. there
collapse and leave everybody without affordable health care. we are doing an act of mercy. there are genuine problems with obamacare. there are counties where there are only one insurer left in the exchange. it s undeniable, as democrats have said over and over, there are parts of the claim that need to be fixed but the claim that obamacare is collapsing, that it s in a death spiral, that an act of mercy from president trump and the republicans is needed to save american health care, that doesn t hold up. put aside the fact the polls show the law is more popular than it s ever been, that the growth of health care costs has dramatically slowed and more than 20 million people have gained coverage, the associate press reports experts agree the law is not currently in a death spiral. those experts include the american academy of actuaries. in addition, congressional budget office data shows while insurance marketplaces are smaller then it had initially expected, they are not in cbo s
so republicans insisting their plan will mean less coverage, higher cost and a massive tax cut for the rich. remember, just because they say obamacare is collapsing does not make it true. joining me now, republican congressman mo brooks of alabama. congressman, i want to start on the process here. it s been interesting to watch folks in your party, colleagues of yours, friends of yours object to the process house leadership is using. do you feel, as mike lee and others have contended, that they are moving too quickly and trying to jam this down your throats? well, i have some reservations about the process. i would have preferred that the drafting of this legislation be much more open than it has been. but nonetheless, there are going to be public hearings and committees. there will be some time for the public to be able to digest this legislation and contact folks like me. senators, house members to share their insight and if we have two to three weeks from the time this bill first