Late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel delivered an impassioned monologue on his show Tuesday night accusing Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., of lying to him earlier in the summer when he said his proposed healthcare bill would not impose coverage caps for children with congenital diseases.
Mr. Kimmel's son was born in April with the rare congenital heart defect tetralogy of fallot. He underwent open-heart surgery earlier this year. While Congress was locked in a heated healthcare debate over the spring and summer, Mr. Kimmel called on legislators to craft a bill that ensured children like his can receive care they needed no matter the socio-economic status of their parents.
Mr. Cassidy claimed in May that his proposal would pass the "Jimmy Kimmel test" and affirmed that belief later in the summer when he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Mr. Kimmel claims the bill Mr. Cassidy has since developed with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., will impose Medicaid per-capita caps and allow insurers to issue coverage caps of their own.
Mr. Kimmel said Mr. Cassidy "lied right to my face," and encouraged his audience to call lawmakers in Washington to voice their opposition to the bill.
"Healthcare is complicated," Mr. Kimmel told viewers. "It's boring. The details are confusing and that's what these guys are counting on."
Mr. Cassidy appeared on multiple talk shows Wednesday morning to defend his bill, arguing that his proposal provides the protections he promised.
"I'm sorry he does not understand," Mr. Cassidy said, according to The Hill.
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