GOP rep: I want people to have both iPhones and healthcare

Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) says Americans will have no trouble affording both a new iPhone and their health insurance, downplaying criticism of a fellow Republican’s statement a day earlier.

“I want them to have both,” Burgess told host Alisyn Camerota on CNN’s “New Day” Wednesday, when asked about Rep. Jason Chaffetz’s (R-Utah) comments that some may have to choose between a new iPhone and healthcare.

“The key is we can have both. People will have options. People will have choices that they can make,” he added.

“There is the concept of tax credits that are going to be debated. In the future of healthcare, an iPhone may be an integral part of your ability to interact with your doc.”

{mosads}Chaffetz on Tuesday said Americans may have to choose between buying a new iPhone and purchasing their health insurance.

“You know what, Americans have choices. And they’ve got to make a choice,” he said on CNN’s “New Day.”

“And so maybe, rather than getting a new iPhone that they just love and they want to spend hundreds of dollars on, maybe they should invest in their own healthcare,” the House Oversight Committee chairman added.

Chaffetz’s remarks came one day after House Republican leadership rolled out two new measures aimed at repealing and replacing ObamaCare after weeks of anticipation. The legislation, known as the American Health Care Act, would create a tax credit system aimed at incentivizing individuals to purchase health insurance.

Chaffetz later Tuesday clarified his initial remarks, arguing “we want people to have access to an affordable healthcare product” first and foremost.

“What we’re trying to say, and maybe I didn’t say as smoothly as I possibly could, but people need to make a conscious choice, and I believe in self-reliance,” he said on Fox News. “And they’re going to have to make those decisions.”