Fox News’ Lawrence Jones and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) clashed on Thursday over whether Democrats are calling for healthcare for illegal immigrants — and Jones offered tape to back his side up.
Shaheen joined Jones on Fox & Friends on Thursday morning amid the current federal government shutdown. Democrats and Republicans failed to come to a funding agreement, with Democrats calling for Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies to be extended and some Medicaid cuts to be reversed.
Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have accused Democrats of fighting for healthcare for illegal immigrants. Shaheen called such arguments a “red herring” during her Fox hit.
“The illegal immigrant is just a red herring that’s designed to try and prevent people from talking about the real issue, which is how do we provide health insurance for people in this country,” Shaheen said.
“You know, I say a little detail, you say red herring, but the fact is, Senator, that it exists,” Jones responded.
“No, listen, I’m agreeing with you,” she said. “You’re trying to make an issue where there isn’t one. We agree! Illegal immigrants should not be getting access to the Affordable Care Act marketplace.”
“100%, senator, but what I’m saying is that members of your party are making this an issue,” Jones said.
“Well, I can’t speak for members of my party, and I don&
The senator then accused Republicans like Vice President JD Vance of making healthcare for illegal immigrants an issue. Vance appeared on Fox & Friends the day prior and echoed many of the president’s points on the shutdown. He also argued he’s willing to negotiate on healthcare points, but only after a funding deal is in place.
“I think you are making it an issue,” Shaheen told Jones on Thursday. “Vice President Vance is making it and issue, but I haven’t heard anybody in my party saying that illegal immigrants should get access to the health insurance market.”
“I’m so glad you said that. Actually, I have some tape of your Democratic party members saying this on the debate stage. So they’ve all said, and let’s play the clip,” Jones said.
The Fox host cut to a clip from a 2019 Democratic debate where every person on stage raised their hands when asked if their healthcare plans would include coverage for illegal immigrants. Former President Joe Biden and others were onstage.
“Senator, that’s literally every member of your party from moderate to more progressive that have said that in the past. I’ve seen them all on cable,” Jones told Shaheen.
The senator made it clear she has never publicly supported that, and that New Hampshire does
“I beg to disagree with you. I have not said that in the past. In New Hampshire, we do not provide health insurance for illegal immigrants. We have never done that, and you’re just wrong!” Shaheen said. “So the question right now is what are we going to do to ensure that we’re not kicking 24 million Americans, raising their premiums for health insurance, doubling those, and kicking 4 million Americans off of their health insurance.”
Watch above via Fox News.