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MATT CARTWRIGHT: I have
understood for quite some time

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now that there are those in this
country whose favorite pastime

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is attacking health care.

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But your decision as
our new attorney general

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to throw the weight of the
United States Department

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of Justice behind an effort to
get the federal courts entirely

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to invalidate the
Patient Protection

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and Affordable Care
Act as unconstitutional

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is breathtaking.

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It's-- it's-- it's unbelievable.

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It stands out, your decision
does, for its breadth,

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its scope, its recklessness, and
its lack of legal justification

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to invalidate the
Patient Protection

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and Affordable Care Act.

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If your efforts are successful,
millions of Americans

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would lose their health care.

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Tens of millions of Americans
would see the premiums

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for their coverage skyrocket.

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The Department of Justice's
refusal to defend our law,

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the Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act,

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is distressing
because of the harm

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that it poses to the physical
and financial well-being

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of millions of Americans.

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And also because
DOJ's refusal appears

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to be driven by
political considerations

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rather than health
care policy discussions

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or sound legal arguments.

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Attorney General Barr, you're
not a health care policy

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expert, but your department
is taking the lead

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on attempting a massive overhaul
of our American health care

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system.

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So I want to make sure we agree
on a few of the top line facts,

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and let's go through
a couple of quick yes

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or no questions at the outset.

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Number one, have you conducted
or viewed an analysis

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to evaluate the effects of
DOJ's litigation position

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to overturn the ACA?

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The effects on consumer
costs and coverage--

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have you done that analysis
or have you reviewed one?

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WILLIAM BARR: Well,
when we're faced

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with a legal question we try
to base our answer on the law.

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MATT CARTWRIGHT: On the law.

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So the answer is no.

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And here's the thing.

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I can't imagine
that you would take

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that kind of a
dramatic, drastic action

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without even trying to
evaluate the consequences

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for the American consumers.

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The people using
the health care.

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The people for whom
these premiums are paid.

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Let's start the process--

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WILLIAM BARR: If you
mean in the event--

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[INTERPOSING VOICES]

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MATT CARTWRIGHT: --successful
in this lawsuit that you're

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supporting and the
entire Patient Protection

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and Affordable Care
Act is struck down,

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millions of Americans who
currently receive health

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insurance coverage under
the law are at risk

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of losing that coverage.

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Am I correct in that?

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WILLIAM BARR: I think the
president has made clear

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that he favors not only
pre-existing conditions

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but would like action
on a broad health plan.

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So he is proposing a
substitute for Obamacare.

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MATT CARTWRIGHT:
The one that's going

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to come after the next
election you mean.

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WILLIAM BARR: The one that
will come down if and when--

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MATT CARTWRIGHT: Well, let
me be the one to inform you.

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Should the law be
struck down, millions

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of people who get their coverage
through the ACA Marketplace

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would lose their coverage,
and tens of millions

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more would see their
premiums skyrocket.

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In addition, if
you're successful,

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12 million people nationally and
750,000 people in my home state

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of Pennsylvania,
who have coverage

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under the Medicaid
expansion, would

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also likely lose that coverage.

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Am I correct in that, sir?

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WILLIAM BARR: Do you think it's
likely we are going to prevail?

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MATT CARTWRIGHT:
If you prevail--

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well, you're devoting
scarce resources

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of your department
toward that effort,

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are you not, Attorney General?

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WILLIAM BARR: We're
in litigation.

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We have to take a position--

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MATT CARTWRIGHT:
The answer is yes.

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WILLIAM BARR: We take
position in litigation--

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MATT CARTWRIGHT: You're
trying to get it invalidated.

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And if you succeed, that many
people will lose their coverage

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nationally from Medicaid and
750,000 from Pennsylvania

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alone, right?

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WILLIAM BARR: I'm just
saying, that if you think

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it's such an
outrageous position you

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have nothing to worry about.

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Let the courts do their job.

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