Rep. Moulton goes ‘On the Record’ about US Senate race, health care

BOOM, THE LIKES OF WHICH THE WORLD HAS NEVER SEEN. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TOUTING HIS FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE. AND OUR MESSAGE TO MIKE JOHNSON IS CLEAR YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE. AND THE HEALTH CARE BATTLE TURNING BITTER. WE NEED A GOOD AGENDA FOR HEALTH CARE, ONE THAT LOWERS HEALTH CARE COSTS. THIS MORNING, CONGRESSMAN SETH MOULTON GOES ON THE RECORD ABOUT THE BIGGEST ISSUES IN WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW AND HIS POLITICAL FUTURE. FROM WCVB CHANNEL FIVE. THE INSIDE WORD FROM WASHINGTON TO BEACON HILL. TODAY’S NEWSMAKERS ARE GOING ON THE RECORD. AND GOOD MORNING. IT’S SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21ST. I’M SHARMAN SACCHETTI AND I’M BEN SIMMONEAU IN FOR ED, JOINING US AT THE TABLE IS DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN SETH MOULTON. HE HAS REPRESENTED MASSACHUSETTS SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SINCE 2015. CONGRESSMAN HAPPY HOLIDAYS. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANKS FOR COMING. SAME TO YOU. GREAT TO BE HERE. THANKS FOR HAVING ME BACK. LET’S START OUT WITH THE BIG NEWS. YOU’RE PRIMARYING SENATOR ED MARKEY MAKING HIS AGE A MAJOR FACTOR. HE’S 79 YEARS OLD. YOU’RE 47. HE SAYS HE’S MORE ENERGIZED THAN EVER. AND HE’S ALSO FACED THIS GENERATIONAL CHANGE ARGUMENT BEFORE. AND HE WON AGAINST FORMER CONGRESSMAN JOE KENNEDY THE THIRD. SO WHY DO YOU THINK YOU CAN BEAT HIM? AND WHAT’S YOUR STRATEGY? LOOK, I THINK IT’S A DIFFERENT TIME IN THE PARTY HISTORY RIGHT NOW. COMING ON THE HEELS OF DIANNE FEINSTEIN, JOE BIDEN AND THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT HAS GOTTEN US NOW TWO TERMS OF DONALD TRUMP, WE JUST CAN’T KEEP USING THE SAME OLD PLAYBOOK. I THINK IT’S TIME FOR A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS, AND THAT’S WITH GREAT RESPECT FOR SENATOR MARKEY AND HIS SERVICE TO OUR COMMONWEALTH AND THE COUNTRY FOR ABOUT A HALF A CENTURY. BUT BESIDES THE AGE ARGUMENT, WHAT ELSE DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE? WHAT’S YOUR STRATEGY TO BEAT HIM? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK DEMOCRATS NEED TO HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE, FORWARD FACING AGENDA. EVERYONE KNOWS WE’RE OPPOSED TO TRUMP, BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? THERE’S A REAL LEADERSHIP VACUUM IN THE PARTY RIGHT NOW. SO I’VE RELEASED AN AGGRESSIVE AFFORDABILITY AGENDA, MAKING HEALTH CARE, HOUSING AND EDUCATION BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, PLANTING THE FLAG IN THE GROUND. THAT’S THREE FOR 30. IN RESPONSE TO TO REPUBLICANS PROJECT 2025 SAYING THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE IN AMERICA, YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE TO HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, AND WE’RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT WITH A WEALTH TAX, WITH A TAX ON THE MEGA MEGA MILLIONAIRES WHO BENEFIT FROM ALL THESE TAX LOOPHOLES, WHO HAVE THEIR PRIVATE YACHTS AND PRIVATE PLANES AND DON’T PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE. THAT’S AN AGGRESSIVE AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE THAT I THINK PEOPLE CAN GET BEHIND. AND I’M SOMEONE WHO HAS A TRACK RECORD OF ACTUALLY GETTING THINGS LIKE THIS DONE. I MEAN, WE ACTUALLY PASSED NINE, EIGHT, EIGHT, THE NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE, A SERVICE THAT’S SAVING THOUSANDS OF LIVES EVERY SINGLE MONTH. WE ACTUALLY PASSED THAT UNDER THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. SO YOU CAN GET THINGS DONE EVEN IN A BROKEN WASHINGTON. AND PEOPLE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY DESERVE THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP. ALL RIGHT. HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE SET TO SPIKE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AS THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT TAX CREDITS EXPIRE. THE ENHANCED TAX CREDITS, IN A SURPRISE MOVE, THOUGH, LAST WEEK FOR MODERATE REPUBLICANS, THERE THEY ARE HAVE JOINED WITH DEMOCRATS TO FORCE A VOTE ON EXTENDING THEM. THEY COULD GET A VOTE ON THE FLOOR NEXT MONTH, DESPITE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON’S OBJECTIONS. WERE YOU SURPRISED? I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED. IT SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY ONE IN THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WITH MUCH POLITICAL COURAGE THESE DAYS IS MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, AND WE FINALLY GOT SOME MODERATE REPUBLICANS TO DO THE RIGHT THING HERE. BUT WHEN PEOPLE AS EXTREME AS MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE ARE SAYING THAT SHE CAN’T AFFORD HEALTH CARE FOR HER OWN FAMILY, YOU UNDERSTAND HOW DIRE THIS ISSUE IS. AND IT’S JUST UNBELIEVABLE. IT’S UNCONSCIONABLE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE JUST GOING TO LET ALL THESE PEOPLE FALL OFF HEALTH CARE BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES CAN’T AFFORD IT ON THEIR WATCH. SO THE ACA, THE INITIAL INTENT WAS TO BRING DOWN COSTS. THAT CLEARLY HAS NOT HAPPENED. SO NO, NO, THAT’S NOT TRUE. WELL, THE ACA HAS BROUGHT DOWN COSTS. OVERALL COSTS HAVE GONE BACK UP. BUT BUT HEALTH CARE COSTS ARE RISING WITH INFLATION. SO THAT’S TRUE. CRITICS SAY THAT THEY’RE STILL HIGH PREMIUMS. INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE JUST GOTTEN WEALTHIER. SO THE QUESTION FOR YOU IS IF DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY, DO WE IS IT TIME TO KIND OF REBUILD THE SYSTEM AGAIN? I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE A PUBLIC OPTION, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY PART OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S ORIGINAL PLAN. A PUBLIC OPTION IS MEDICARE FOR ALL WHO WANT IT. SO YOU’RE NOT FORCED ONTO IT. I ALSO GET CARE FROM THE VA, SO I UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT PROVIDED HEALTH CARE AND IT’S NOT ALWAYS GREAT, BUT MEDICARE FOR ALL WHO WANT IT, WOULD IT BE A PUBLIC OPTION THAT WOULD COMPETE AGAINST PRIVATE HEALTH CARE PLANS? THAT COMPETITION WOULD DRIVE DOWN COSTS. IT WOULD HOLD THESE PRIVATE PLANS ACCOUNTABLE IN THE PROCESS. WE CAN GET THESE MIDDLEMEN LIKE PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS, THE PBMS, OUT OF THE SYSTEM. THESE ARE REAL REFORMS THAT WE SHOULD BE PUTTING FORWARD, AND DEMOCRATS NEED TO PUSH THESE, AND THAT WILL PUT PRESSURE ON REPUBLICANS TO ACTUALLY DO IT. SO SO JUST BEING OPPOSED TO THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA, THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHERE I THINK THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT IS NOT DOING ENOUGH. LET’S HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE, PROGRESSIVE AGENDA OURSELVES. SO YOU THINK YOU AGREE THAT THE THE WAY THE CURRENT INSURANCE SYSTEM IS SET UP, IT’S NOT WORKING. IT’S NOT WORKING WELL ENOUGH. NO, IT’S ABSOLUTELY NOT. LET’S NOT FORGET THAT MILLIONS MORE AMERICANS HAVE HEALTH CARE BECAUSE OF OBAMACARE, BECAUSE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. SO THAT’S A HUGE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT IS IT PERFECT? AND SHOULD WE DEFEND IT AS PERFECT? NO, WE SHOULD BE MAKING IT BETTER BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL AMERICANS WHO ARE LEFT OUT, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS WHO ARE HEARING FROM TODAY WHO ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED THAT EVEN IF NOT NOW, IN JUST A FEW MONTHS, THEY’RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD HEALTH CARE WITH THESE FOUR REPUBLICANS DEFECTING, DO YOU THINK THE SPEAKER HAS LOST THE ROOM? THIS IS THE SECOND DISCHARGE PETITION. THIS IS THE WEAKEST SPEAKER IN AMERICAN HISTORY. BUT THE PROBLEM IS IT’S WHEN HE’S WEAK. IT MEANS THAT WE’RE NOT PUTTING ANY CHECKS ON THIS PRESIDENT. AND THAT’S WHY THE HOUSE IS NOT WORKING. AND THAT’S WHY IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL FOR DEMOCRATS TO WIN THE MIDTERMS AND NOT JUST WIN BY A LITTLE, BUT WIN BIG TO FINALLY PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. YOU KNOW, BACK IN 2018, THE LAST TIME WE WERE IN THE SAME POLITICAL POSITION WITH TRUMP AND THE WHITE HOUSE AND REPUBLICANS CONTROLLING THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, MORE THAN HALF THE SEATS THAT DEMOCRATS FLIPPED IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO TAKE BACK THE HOUSE WERE MY SERVE AMERICA CANDIDATES. AND I THINK THAT’S ANOTHER IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE. I DON’T THINK IT’S GOOD ENOUGH JUST TO BE A SENATOR IN A BLUE STATE WHO WORKS HARD TO GET HIMSELF REELECTED. I THINK A SENATOR IN A BLUE STATE SHOULD WORK TO ELECT DEMOCRATS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A MAJORITY AND ADVANCE OUR AGENDA FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. HEALTH SECRETARY RFK JR HAS RELEASED SWEEPING PLANS TO BAN GENDER AFFIRMING CARE FOR MINORS. HE HAD THIS TO SAY A FEW DAYS AGO. LISTEN TO THIS SO-CALLED GENDER AFFIRMING CARE HAS INFLICTED LASTING PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE ON VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE. THIS IS NOT MEDICINE. IT IS MALPRACTICE. NOW, HE SAYS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL BLOCK HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS FROM PROVIDING TRANSGENDER CARE TO CHILDREN AND CUT OFF MEDICAID AND MEDICARE FUNDING TO THOSE WHO DO. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS? THIS WOULD BE DEVASTATING. THIS WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR KIDS, FOR TRANS KIDS, THIS WOULD BE DEVASTATING FOR HOSPITALS IN MASSACHUSETTS THAT PROVIDE THIS CARE. AND IT’S ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT WE’VE SEEN FOR DECADES OF REPUBLICANS WHO SAY THAT THEY’RE THE PARTY OF FREEDOM AND FREE CHOICE. REPUBLICANS INSERTING THEMSELVES, POLITICIANS BETWEEN PATIENTS AND THEIR DOCTORS. THESE ARE DECISIONS JUST LIKE ABORTION, JUST LIKE THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT SHOULD BE LEFT BETWEEN A PATIENT AND THEIR DOCTOR. AND WE VOTED ON ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, THEY SORT OF PUT FORWARD THIS KIND OF FAKE ACA IMPROVEMENT PLAN THIS THIS PAST WEEK AS WELL THAT WE VOTED ON AND HIDDEN IN. THERE WAS ANOTHER ANTI-ABORTION MEASURE. SO THIS IS JUST THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA. DON’T LET DOCTORS MAKE DECISIONS WITH THEIR PARENTS, WITH THEIR PARENTS AND PATIENTS. JUST PUT POLITICIANS IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. AND THAT’S WRONG. AND I KNOW THAT DOCTORS IN MASSACHUSETTS WON’T ACCEPT IT, BUT THAT MEANS THAT THERE COULD BE SOME REAL CONSEQUENCES FOR MASSACHUSETTS HOSPITALS, FOR HOSPITALS. ALL RIGHT. YOU GOT A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM YOUR PARTY, FROM YOUR OWN PARTY, WHEN YOU SAY YOU DIDN’T WANT YOUR DAUGHTERS GETTING RUN OVER BY A MALE OR FORMERLY MALE ATHLETE ON A PLANE. AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT DEMOCRATS REFUSE TO TALK ABOUT IT AND THAT DEMOCRATS WOULDN’T TALK ABOUT IT. YOU SAID THAT YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE AFRAID TO SAY THOSE THINGS. DO YOU THINK THE PARTY STILL NEEDS TO CHANGE ITS MESSAGING ON THAT ISSUE? I DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE MESSAGE SHOULD BE. I’M JUST SAYING WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO HAVE THESE DEBATES, BECAUSE IF WE DON’T, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OPENED ITSELF UP TO SOME OF THESE. I HAVE NEVER HAD MORE FELLOW DEMOCRATS, MORE COLLEAGUES IN CONGRESS COME TO ME AND SAY, THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT, JUST SO THAT WE CAN START A DISCUSSION, INCLUDING BOTH CO-CHAIRS OF THE EQUALITY CAUCUS IN CONGRESS. BECAUSE WHY, IF WE DON’T TAKE ON THESE TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, WE’RE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO STAND UP FOR TRANS PEOPLE, FOR TRANS KIDS. WE’RE JUST LETTING REPUBLICANS SET THE AGENDA, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU SEE HAPPENING IN THIS CONGRESS, RIGHT? WE DIDN’T GET TO VOTE ON ANY DEMOCRATIC BILLS. WE’RE JUST VOTING ON THESE HATE FILLED, ANTI PATIENT, ANTI DOCTOR BILLS LIKE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE THIS PAST WEEK THAT I WAS VERY PROUD TO VOTE AGAINST. ALL RIGHT. OU


Political Reporter and Co-Host of WCVB’s “On The Record”

Rep. Seth Moulton joins “On the Record” to discuss his primary challenge against Sen. Ed Markey, the future of ACA tax credits and federal transgender care policies.

NEEDHAM, Mass. —

U.S. Representative Seth Moulton joined “On the Record” to discuss his primary challenge against Sen. Ed Markey, the future of Affordable Care Act tax credits and more.

Congressman Moulton has represented Massachusetts’s sixth congressional district since 2015. He launched his campaign for U.S. Senate earlier this year.

“The Democratic establishment has gotten us now two terms of Donald Trump,” he said. “We just can’t keep using the same old playbook. I think it’s time for a new generation of leaders, and that’s with great respect for Senator Markey.”

Moulton also discussed a big issue on Capitol Hill right now: debate over the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies.

“It’s just unbelievable, it’s unconscionable that Republicans are just going to let all these people fall off health care because families can’t afford it on their watch,” he said.

He said he believes the country needs a public health care option that offers Medicare for all who want it.

“These are real reforms that we should be putting forward,” he said.

Rep. Seth Moulton goes ‘On the Record’ about economy, boat strikes

Rep. Moulton discussed President Donald Trump’s recent primetime address, during which he claimed that the country is on track for an economic boom.

“We all know prices are up, they’re sky high, and the president is just deranged in this speech,” he said.

Moulton said the Democrats need to have a plan to address affordability. He has put forward his own proposal, called “The American Affordability Agenda: 3 for 30.”

Congressman Moulton also addressed the U.S. military conducting deadly boat strikes in the Pacific.

“I think that we’re looking at Iraq 2.0. That we’re barreling towards a war in Venezuela and we’ve got to stop it,” the veteran said. “I think Congress was wrong to authorize the Iraq War. I experienced that personally, and we’re not even having a vote.”

‘On the Record’ analysts debate Presidential address, Massachusetts Senate races

Republican analyst Ginny Buckingham and Democratic analyst Mary Anne Marsh join “On the Record” to discuss President Trump’s economic address, Massachusetts Senate races and more.

‘On the Record’ analysts discuss the renaming of the ‘Trump-Kennedy Center’

Republican analyst Ginny Buckingham and Democratic analyst Mary Anne Marsh discuss the renaming of the “Trump-Kennedy Center.”