Cruz Ties Obamacare to Debt Vote
WHITFIELD: Republican Senator Ted Cruz says raising the country's borrowing limit should be tied to defunding Obamacare. On October 17th, the government could default on loans if Congress does not increase its credit limit to pay for bills already racked up. Even as some Republicans are backing away from defunding the health care law, on the "STATE OF THE UNION" today, Cruz was standing firm on the issue.</s>SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: The debt ceiling historically has been among the best leverage that Congress has to reign in the executives.</s>CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST: So yes?</s>CRUZ: Yes. Yes.</s>CROWLEY: And what else?</s>CRUZ: But my point is -- my point is there is great historical precedence. Since 1978 we have raised the debt ceiling 55 times. A majority of those times, 28 times, Congress has attached very specific and stringent requirements, many of the most significant spending restraints, things like Gramm-Rudman, things like sequestration came through the debt ceiling. And so the president's demand jack up the nation's credit card with no limits, no constraints, it's not a reasonable demand.</s>WHITFIELD: The government has attempted to explain exactly what the president's health care law is and how it works. Here now is Tom Foreman.</s>TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Despite all these monumental changes to health care, most of us who have insurance probably won't see much change, maybe some modifications. But this is really about the 48 million people who are uninsured, about half of whom are now expected to buy insurance through these health care marketplaces. And let me point out, about 7 million are expected to do so by the end of the year. That's how fast this is happening. So, how do we imagine these marketplaces? Think about a store where you can buy one of four different insurance plans, bronze, silver, gold or platinum. Here's the difference between them. Look at the bronze plan over here. If you buy this, you're going to have a lower monthly premium, but when you go to the doctor, your co-pay, your deductibles, your other fees will be higher. At the other end of the spectrum, if you buy the platinum plan, you're going to spend more on your monthly premium, but when you go to the doctor, you'll pay less money. This won't be exactly the same state to state to state because local companies are involved, so you can't call a family member living up in New Hampshire, for example, and say, what are you doing, because it may be different in Mississippi. But this should be the same no matter where you live, there should be no higher premiums if you get sick. There should be no denial of coverage if you have a preexisting condition. And you should have no fees for preventive care. If you get inoculations for your kids, if you get a mammogram, if you get a routine physical, you shouldn't be paying for that under this new plan. Still, there is money to be paid. And for a lot of people who don't make much money, this may seem very expensive; that's why the government is going to help out. If you make $46,000 a year as an individual or $94,000 a year as a family of four or less, the government is going to give you a refund to help pay for your insurance under this new plan. But no matter what happens, you're going to have to get involved. Even if you live in one of the dozens of states that have said they want nothing to do with Obamacare, you're still going to be involved. All that means is your state government will not be involved in organizing this health care marketplace. The federal government will do it there, instead of your state government. You'll go to a federal website to sign up. But you will have to do something, otherwise the federal government is going to fine you for not having insurance. That's what this is all about. And that's why it really is decision time coast to coast.