Rep. Graves On ABC’s “This Week”

U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) was a guest on ABC’s “This Week” this morning, where he spoke about his efforts to keep the government open and stop Obamacare. Jonathan Karl of ABC News moderated as Rep. Graves debated Maryland Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen, who declined to explain why Obamacare has been delayed by the president, outraged unions across America and caused health insurance premiums to rise in his home state.

Highlights:

Graves on how Republicans in Congress are united behind keeping the government open and protecting constituents from the harmful effects of Obamacare:

JONATHAN KARL, ABC NEWS CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: If the Senate does not go along with this in eight days, are you still going to insist that you will not support funding for the government unless Obamacare is defunded?

GRAVES: So we do have eight days to reach a resolution on this and I proposed an idea that kept the government operating and open for an entire year while delaying and defunding Obamacare for a year so that we could work out those differences.

…

GRAVES: We are united around a very simple goal, and that is keeping the government open while protecting our constituents from the harmful effects of Obamacare. So, we're going to do everything we can to protect our constituents, and we have eight days to do that.

Graves on the broad public opposition to Obamacare:

GRAVES: …when you read "The Chicago Tribune," they say delay and stop ObamaCare. Warren Buffett says stop it now and start over. You have the three top leaders of the unions in our country saying this is now what will work. It's going to create a new underclass of workers that are under 30 hours.

(CROSSTALK)

GRAVES: It's not just Republicans, this is widespread, even "The Baltimore Sun" says that it's going to cause 25 percent increase in rates in Chris' district.

Graves on the Obama Administration’s actions to repeal or delay Obamacare:

GRAVES: Something very important has happened since the president did win the election and that he himself has amended, delayed, or repealed 19 components of his very own law. So if it's so good for America, then why he is delaying it for his friends in big business? Why is he delaying it for members of Congress like yourself?