Interview with Georgia Sen. Michael Williams
PAUL: Seventeen minutes past the hour right now. Good to have you with us. Less than a week to go now before the senate hopes to vote on their bill to replace Obamacare. The GOP leaders have a real uphill climb to get these votes because there are now five republican senators who say they just cannot support it, at least, in its current form. Take a look at the faces there, some expressing concern, some outright opposing. GOP leaders can only afford here to lose two members of their caucus in order for the bill to pass next week's potential vote. Now, the latest to voice opposition, Senator Dean Heller of Nevada, a blue state republican, democrats are targeting to unseat in 2018. He talked about his problems with this bill. Take a listen.</s>HELLER: I'm telling you right now, I cannot support a piece of legislation that takes insurance away from tens of millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Nevadans. You have to protect Medicaid expansion states. That's what I want. Make sure that we're taken care off here in the State of Nevada.</s>BLACKWELL: All right, joining me now, Georgia State Senator Michael Williams, an early supporter of the President</s>SEN. MICHAEL WILLIAMS (R), GEORGIA: It's a pleasure to be here.</s>BLACKWELL: What's your response to what you heard from Senator Heller?</s>WILLIAMS: First of all, we need to support the President. You know, he campaigned on repealing or replacing Obamacare and that's what the American people expect and that's what they want. So, we need to get out there and support the president and support this bill and get his bill passed.</s>BLACKWELL: OK, but what expense? Senator Heller says this is not going to drop premiums for people who need that reduction in premium costs. Do you dispute that at all?</s>WILLIAMS: Definitely, I dispute that. Again, I haven't read the complete bill but we have to go out there, make sure that the people can afford their premiums. I know -- I've experienced an increase in premiums with Obamacare and several other people haven't and we can't allow it to happen.</s>BLACKWELL: All right, let's put up the slate of senators who are either no right now or expressing serious concern. There are eight here. The latest says we just played Senator Heller of Nevada. There is also this ad campaign that's coming from super PAC that supports President Trump. American -- America first policy is their first week coming out here, hold Senator Dean Heller accountable for turning his back on voters after promise to repeal and replace Obamacare. Is this appropriate for the party to go after a vulnerable republican who's up in 2018?</s>WILLIAMS: Absolutely. Politics is tough, it's rough, it's a contact sport and, again, we need people out there that are willing to stand up, just defend the principles that they believe in and, again, we have to repeal and replace Obamacare. Not only that, but we need to change the entire health care system in our country. We have too many elected officials that are in the pockets of pharmaceutical companies as well as insurance companies. So, if you're not willing to stand up and fight what you believe in then we need to --</s>BLACKWELL: What's the impact of the CBO score that comes out next week?</s>WILLIAMS: The impact of this --</s>BLACKWELL: CBO score that comes out next week.</s>WILLIAMS: I'm not aware of what that score is. I don't know.</s>BLACKWELL: It hasn't come out yet but from the House, when it came out, there were 23 million over an additional ten years who would be removed from health care, which many people think kind of sunk the house plan. What role will it play for the senate, do you believe?</s>WILLIANS: Well, again, you just have to talk about people that are not insured right now in our country?</s>BLACKWELL: An additional number of people who would lose insurance because of the plan that the republicans had put forward?</s>WILLIAMS: Well, let's look at the plan that Obamacare put forward. I mean, how many people lost their insurance coverage, couldn't afford their insurance coverage? I don't believe a lot of things that come up -- that come out in response to people losing their insurance. I mean, it happens but it -- I'm just extremely frustrated with the political environment that we find ourselves in. We have too many people that are not concerned and worried about their -- the people that are having to pay these premiums. Again, I just -- I don't mean to get off target a little but I had a son that had an accident not long ago, major accident. He's gone through probably 12 surgeries. My insurance premiums have gone up over the years and we are stuck with tens of thousands of dollars of medical bills. My wife is having a baby next week and I have no idea what that is going to cost us because of the way these insurance companies run their business and just go after profits instead of people and it's wrong.</s>BLACKWELL: But, let me ask you about -- first, congratulations on the baby but let me ask you about this, if the senate bill goes forward, then states would be allowed to determine what exactly these insurance plans will be able to cover. They don't have to cover the essential health benefits that the Affordable Care Act require them to, so, if you require -- if you relied on some of these programs, it's a good chance that your wife's pregnancy would not be covered.</s>WILLIAMS: Well, again, you're touch --</s>BLACKWELL: If states had the option to remove them.</s>WILLIAMS: You're touching a very important point and to me that is the states and allowing these insurance companies to compete across states. Right now, when you have insurance companies, you can only, you know, have certain plans in various states around the country. We need to open that up and allow for a free market society in our country because, right now, how many states only have one insurance company in their state right now? That they're pulling out and they're pulling out. Until we get free market and competition in our states, the insurance companies and insurance plans, we're not going to see the benefits that we need.</s>BLACKWELL: So, you're a new father, should these insurance companies be required to, in these policies, cover pregnancy, cover obstetrics?</s>WILLIAMS: Well, yes. If I buy a policy that covers my wife's pregnancy, obviously, it should cover it.</s>BLACKWELL: No, but I'm saying, should they be required to cover it? You -- when you married your wife, you may not have known that she was going to get pregnant when you got the insurance policy but should they be required? Should there be essentially a list of required benefits that every plan should have?</s>WILLIAMS: No, I don't believe that should be the case. I don't think that the government should come in and say that you have to get insured and it's all of these requirements. I don't think that's right. Again, you allow the free market to work. Capitalism that free market society has helped billions of people come out of poverty over the past, how many years since it's been here, in our country and we need to allow that healthcare system.</s>BLACKWELL: Quickly, do you think it will pass at the senate?</s>WILLIAMS: I hope so.</s>BLACKWELL: OK. All right, Senator Michael Williams, thanks so much.</s>WILLIAMS: All right, thank you.</s>BLACKWELL: Up next, the former director of the CDC will join us with his take on the republican healthcare bill.</s>PAUL: Also coming up, years after a scandal rocked the Department of Veterans Affairs, President Trump signs new reforms into law. How's he making sure the veterans get the care that they need? Those details are ahead, stay close.