Rand Paul denounces 'new entitlements' in emerging health bill

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) sharply criticized central elements of the emerging Senate Republican healthcare bill on Thursday, indicating that he will vote against it unless dramatic changes are made.

Paul denounced as “new entitlements” two core elements of the Republican bill in both the House and Senate: a refundable tax credit to help people buy insurance and a “stabilization fund” of money to help bring down premiums.

“I think we shouldn't have new entitlements that will go on forever in a Republican plan to fix healthcare,” Paul told a small group of reporters. “We can't pay for what we already have: Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.”

Asked if he would vote “no,” Paul said: “What I'm telling them is if they get to an impasse, come talk to me, because I'm more than willing to vote for a partial repeal if I can't get complete repeal, but I'm not willing to vote for new Republican entitlement programs.”

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