Tea Party Patriots co-founder slams GOP health-care proposal, warns prices will 'skyrocket'

Tea Party leader Jenny Beth Martin skewers health care bill on CNN.

(Image credit: Screenshot/CNN)

published 9 March 2017

Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin did not shy away from voicing her dissatisfaction with Republicans' new health-care proposal during her appearance Thursday on CNN's New Day. Martin, a longtime Tea Party leader and columnist for The Washington Times, was among those who met with President Trump on Wednesday night to discuss the American Health Care Act rolled out earlier this week. "If it passes the way it is presented right now, the hardworking taxpayers of this country will be forgotten once again," Martin said, noting the bill will cause health insurance prices to "skyrocket."

Martin said she isn't the only Tea Party member concerned about the bill, pointing to the hundreds of emails she's received from fellow members. Trump apparently promised Wednesday to consider the concerns, but not until after the initial bill was already passed. "People are reminding me that we've stood in the snow, in the rain, in the hot summer heat again and again and again to oppose ObamaCare, to work to get it repealed and to stand for health-care freedom," Martin said. "What we're seeing out of the House of Representatives is not what we expected when we voted for majorities in the House and Senate, who promised us they would repeal ObamaCare."

Watch a clip of the interview below. Becca Stanek