GOP Sen. Cassidy says White House "absolutely" could have handled Comey situation better
Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy told CBSN Wednesday that theTrump's administration "absolutely" could have handled the firing of FBI Director James Comey better, but the physician hopes the issue won't detract from the Republicans' health care bill.
Comey, Cassidy said, had "become an issue" and was "distracting from the mission of the agency." But Cassidy said Comey's firing will be more of a "flash in the pan" than an ongoing issue that will dog the administration and issues on agenda, like health care reform.
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"When it comes to health care reform, events are in the saddle," Cassidy said, saying that premiums are up under Obamacare, and claiming that even the House GOP's bill doesn't lower premium costs.
Cassidy said any upcoming Senate health bill must both lower premiums and pass what he has coined the "Jimmy Kimmel test." Cassidy appeared on Jimmy Kimmel live Monday night, days after the comedian made headlines and influenced the health care debate by telling the powerful story of his son's open-heart surgery -- and Kimmel lamented that no parents should have to decide whether they can afford to save their child's life. Families must have access to health insurance policies that cover costs if the life of a child is in jeopardy, Cassidy said.
The Senate is crafting its own health care bill, after the House narrowly passed the American Health Care Act in a 217-213 vote last week that included not one Democrat voting in favor. The Senate is now debating the future of health care with a 13-member working group.
On Tuesday, President Trump met with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to discuss the future of the bill, according to White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan estimated the Senate will pass a health care bill in the "next month or two."
