Christie won't 'light' self on fire over GOP health proposal

<p>Gov. Chris Christie says he's not going to Washington to "pour gasoline" on himself and "light" himself on fire to register his concern over the Senate GOP's health care overhaul bill.</p>

News 12 Staff

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Jun 27, 2017, 11:09 PM

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Updated 2,500 days ago

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Gov. Chris Christie says he's not going to Washington to "pour gasoline" on himself and "light" himself on fire to register his concern over the Senate GOP's health care overhaul bill.

Speaking Tuesday at an event in Trenton, the Republican governor pushed back on suggestions that he has not fully opposed congressional Republican efforts to overhaul the Affordable Care Act.

Christie says he's concerned over proposed Medicaid changes but wasn't going further.

“If Medicaid expansion is changed without an appropriate transition and ability for us to deal with those issues, that’s a problem,” Christie says.

The Senate on Tuesday shelved a vote on their legislation due to a lack of support by Republican leaders.

The bill would cut Medicaid, which provides health insurance to over 70 million poor and disabled people, by $772 billion through 2026 by capping its overall spending and phasing out the program's expansion.

Christie expanded Medicaid and has touted it as a success.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is among those who have expressed concern about the bill. Maine is also a state that opted in to the Medicaid expansion.

“It’s difficult for me to see how any tinkering [with the plan] is going to satisfy my fundamental and deep concerns about the bill,” she said.

The vote on the bill has been postponed until after the July 4 recess.

The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.

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