Healthcare is always a huge topic on Capitol Hill — and on the campaign trail.
Here are quotations on healthcare from five politicians and potential political candidates.
"It's one thing when you've got a mom-and-pop store who can't afford to provide paid sick leave or health insurance or minimum wage to workers — even though a large percentage of those small businesses do it because they know it's the right thing to do. [But] when I hear large corporations that make billions of dollars in profits trying to blame our interest in providing healthcare as an excuse for cutting back workers' wages, shame on them." — President Barack Obama in a discussion with BuzzFeed editor-in-chief after Staples reportedly threatened to punish workers who clocked enough hours to trigger employer-provided healthcare under the Affordable Care Act. As reported on Mediaite.
"I did not say vaccines cause disorders, just that they were temporally related. I did not allege causation. I support vaccines." — Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, addressing a previous quote where he mentioned there were several stories he heard about children who seemed normal until after they were vaccinated. As reported in The Telegraph.
"Today I am happy to announce that the FCC has taken over the Internet and made it a public utility. Now that the government controls web pricing, terms of service, and products and services, your internet will be faster than ever. This is the same government that brought you the success of healthcare.gov. And now we can continue to do great things for you online." — A parody video from the office of Texas Senator Ted Cruz spoofing the recent net neutrality debate. As reported in Western Journalism.
"I am a small-government person, and I greatly oppose government intrusion into everything. Still, it is essential that we distinguish between those things that are important and those things that are just intruding upon our basic privacy." — Dr. Ben Carson, potential Republican candidate for president, discussing his strong support for vaccinations in a Town Hall column.
"We may be from different political parties, but both of us have dedicated our careers to supporting the health of children and their families. This isn't about politics. It's about our kids and our nation's future. What could be more important than that?" — Former Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on teaming up with former Republican Senator Bill Frist for a New York Times op-ed urging Congress to pass the Children's Health Insurance Program. As reported by CNN.