March 07, 2017 03:49 PM UTC

Coffman Pumps Health Care Bill, Reads Text Later

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• by: Colorado Pols

Republicans will have to pass a healthcare bill in order to find out what it says. This has been a popular joke around Capitol Hill recently, and like any good yarn, it is one that has its roots in reality.

According to a Tweet from Rep. Mike Coffman’s office this afternoon, the Aurora Republican was hunkered down at his desk reading the new House Republican bill to repeal destroy Obamacare. But just this morning, as Coffman’s office also Tweeted, the Congressman went on “The Ross Kaminsky Show” on 630AM to offer his full-throated support of legislation that he may not have even read yet.

In a healthcare-centric interview, Coffman tells Kaminsky that the legislation represents a “massive reform” to Medicaid, promising to end the program altogether in four years (Coffman cites “political reasons” for not trying to end Medicaid sooner). Says Coffman:

“It actually goes much further than the Affordable Care Act.  This is a major entitlement reform.  It is a major reform to the entire Medicaid system.  And I think that that has not been part of the discussion..

…”As long as enough republicans stay together, we can get this passed and on the President’s desk.”

Coffman is apparently all-in on the House legislation, which has received public support from President Trump. Coffman’s endorsement of cutting Medicaid, however, doesn’t square with what Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma) said on Monday, when he said he couldn’t support healthcare legislation that did not protect Medicaid.

Check out the Big Media Blog for more from Coffman’s interview this morning.