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The pursuing is the transcript of the interrogation with Sen. Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, tthat aired connected "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" connected Dec. 14, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We spell present to Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, helium joins america this greeting from Baton Rouge. Good greeting to you, Senator.
SEN. BILL CASSIDY: Good morning, Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So your wellness attraction measure gives Americans up to $1,500 successful taxation escaped accounts to walk connected wellness attraction alternatively than widen these expiring ACA subsidies. On Thursday, your connection failed 51 to 48, arsenic did the Democratic proposal. So that means it looks similar those receiving ACA premium subsidies volition spot their costs spell up 114%. Bottom enactment here, did Republicans simply hold excessively agelong to travel up with a wellness attraction alternative?
SEN. CASSIDY: Well, archetypal Margaret, let's conscionable benignant of recast the question. We've got to bash thing for affordability for the radical successful the exchanges. And I volition accidental that the lone happening the Democrats would judge was thing that would alteration the premiums. But if a household has a $6,000 retired of pouch earlier they get into the spot of the security plan, then, frankly, the argumentation is catastrophic. It brings nett to the security company, but not payment to the patient. So I would reason that it really is- determination has to beryllium a gathering of the minds betwixt Democrats and Republicans. Let's admit you've got to enactment currency successful the patient's pouch to wage the retired of pocket. I would beryllium consenting to bash a short-term hold of the premium taxation credits for those radical with higher premiums, if they volition concede that we've got to bash thing for the $6,000 retired of pocket. I deliberation there's a woody to beryllium had here. We request to propulsion for that deal.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So you privation to marque definite that the mean deductible is little than $6,000 is what I conscionable heard you accidental there, and you're unfastened to an--
SEN. CASSIDY: Absolutely. The nett deductible, if you will, that $1,500 is per person. Give maine a couple- for radical implicit 50. Give maine a mates successful their 50s with 2 children, 18 and 19, they would get $5,000 successful an relationship successful their purse, pocketbook, you sanction it, successful their pouch to wage the retired of pouch for the insurance. Now the security program for that mates would beryllium 6000- $6,000 deductible. So- truthful you extremity up decreasing the nett deductible by doing this. That makes the argumentation really functional for them. If the kid has a sprained ankle you bring to the urgent care, you tin wage the bill, not benignant of travel with- travel forward- retired of your ain pocket. By the way, I'm told that astir 40% of Americans person little than $1,000 successful their savings account. That benignant of puts into alleviation wherefore you request to person thing successful their pouch to wage the retired of pocket.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So I cognize the President has said that helium likes the conception of your plan, but- but wherefore didn't the White House enactment its enarthrosis down this earlier Thursday? Why didn't they whip votes for you? Four of your Republican colleagues crossed the aisle and voted with Democrats connected their proposal.
[CROSSTALK]
SEN. CASSIDY: All 4 of those voted for our connection too. And I deliberation that shows you that determination is- determination is involvement successful uncovering thing which addresses some the captious occupation of the retired of pouch expense, but besides the higher premiums--
MARGARET BRENNAN: --But is the White House down you connected this? Like are they helping you?
SEN. CASSIDY: --Well it surely seems similar it.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You privation this up for different vote.
[END CROSSTALK]
SEN. CASSIDY: Their archetypal program had elements of what I americium speaking about, helping radical with that deductible. So simply put, yes, the White House is there. But if you notice, our occupation was not connected the Republican side, our occupation was connected the Democratic side. So what I'm saying is, let's conscionable just together. As a physician, I tin archer you that deductible- the diligent comes, she's stressed. She can't get the procedure, the X ray, the whatever, due to the fact that of her $6,000 deductible. Let's- let's conscionable meet. Let's code our concerns. And past this Republican would beryllium consenting to bash thing connected a abbreviated word hold of the premium taxation credits, if that's what it takes to get the woody to assistance those folks with the much costly premium, but besides helping everybody with their deductible.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you request much White House assistance connected this? And, sir, you're moving retired of clip here. Do you truly deliberation you tin get this done earlier January 1st?
SEN. CASSIDY: Our occupation is not with Republicans. Our occupation has been with Democrats. But of course, they whitethorn accidental that astir us. So what I americium benignant of searching for is simply a woody successful which some person their concerns addressed. If you bash that and you enactment this successful place, you truly person until the extremity of, similar March to get it done. Because with- with these benignant of accounts that radical person wealth in, they conscionable prevention the receipts, they taxable them, and they get reimbursed. It happens- it's what we bash successful my family, we person a flexible spending account. And truthful we tin get this done, and I deliberation we tin conscionable the concerns some astir the retired of pocket, but besides astir the premium.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I besides privation to inquire you astir what's happening with the FDA close now. CBS has confirmed that determination are nary ongoing information studies into the termination cause Mifepristone. This was contempt the Trump medication saying they were going to behaviour 1 and anti-abortion groups privation this reappraisal to instrumentality place. I saw a missive the FDA commissioner sent to you past week claiming they are reviewing the evidence. Do you judge him? And if not, what are you doing astir it?
SEN. CASSIDY: I had a speech with the commissioner this past week. It seems arsenic if it's taken a agelong clip to get that survey up and going, which suggests to maine that it's not a priority. For the pro beingness community, this should beryllium a priority. And if we're going to marque America steadfast again, this seems like, my gosh, should beryllium apical priority. So determination is- I americium disappointed arsenic good arsenic others are disappointed. By the way, this is being dilatory walked. I think- I deliberation it conscionable needs to happen. We request to person the grounds retired there. If you privation to reassure American radical astir thing which is truly apical of mind, this is wherever they should beryllium going.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said that Mifepristone is harmless and effectual and that determination are broadside effects successful little than 1% of patients. I- with that information constituent successful place, wherefore isn't the White House pressing the FDA commissioner to marque this happen? There's immoderate proposition successful reporting that it is for governmental concerns owed to interaction connected the upcoming midterm races. Is this politically motivated- the dilatory walking you accidental is happening?
SEN. CASSIDY: You're asking maine to look into the benignant of motivations of folks with whom I've not had a idiosyncratic conversation--
MARGARET BRENNAN: --Well, did the FDA commissioner accidental that?
SEN. CASSIDY: I can't bash that- but the FDA commissioner said that they're trying to get the survey together, but they've been successful bureau agelong capable that it could beryllium and truthful I deliberation that it's close to beryllium impatient. It's close to request more. I don't cognize if the determination starts with the FDA commissioner. You conscionable suggested it starts successful the White House. That mightiness beryllium the case. Point being, get it done.
MARGARET BRENNAN: And you person assurance successful the FDA commissioner?
SEN. CASSIDY: I deliberation the FDA commissioner is moving precise hard, and I deliberation that successful galore cases, he's receiving directives from connected high. I don't cognize that for sure, but I fishy that's the case.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay. Dr. Cassidy, Senator Cassidy, we convey you for your time. We'll beryllium backmost successful a moment.
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