GOP rep: Trump halting ObamaCare payments would ‘hurt a lot of people’

GOP Rep. Charlie Dent (Pa.) said Monday if President Trump carries out his threat to halt ObamaCare subsidies to insurance companies, low-income Americans would be the ones who suffer.

“Withholding that money would ultimately hurt a lot of people making between 150 to 200 percent of the poverty level who are trying to afford insurance, so I think would be a mistake,” Dent told host John Berman on CNN’s “New Day.”

Dent’s comments come after Trump threatened once again to end the cost-sharing reduction payments if Congress does not pass a new healthcare measure “quickly.”

{mosads}”If a new healthcare bill is not approved quickly, bailouts for insurance companies and bailouts for members of Congress will end very soon!” Trump tweeted after the Senate’s effort to pass a “skinny” repeal of ObamaCare collapsed in a late-night vote last week.

If Trump nixed the subsidy payments, nearly $7 billion that goes to help lowering health coverage costs for low-income Americans would be cut. 

“I believe the president wants a healthcare bill on his desk. I think he has been a little less concerned about the specifics,” Dent said.

Dent said getting a bill onto the president’s desk that improves the healthcare system is possible through bipartisan efforts, pointing to a new healthcare plan released Monday morning that was drafted by 43 Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

“We have this bipartisan proposal. It’s a good one. It’s a good start,” he said, adding that both parties would get amendments they desire through this proposal.