U.S. Rep. Paul Broun of Georgia tells Newsmax he and his fellow Republicans are working hard to end the government shutdown, but the "disaster that is Obamacare" is getting in the way.
Broun calls Obamacare "the flaw of the land," and wants to see it shelved and the government reopened for business.
"We need to keep this government open, and that's what the House Republicans are fighting for," he tells Newsmax TV. Broun says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is unwilling to compromise with Republicans.
"Harry Reid has resisted even talking to us. He said, you just do it my way or we're not going to even talk," said Broun, who accused Reid and President Barack Obama of leading in a "dictatorial manner."
Broun called Obama out for a lack of leadership during the days leading up to the shutdown, saying, "It's time for him to get off his behind and lead."
Broun also slammed Reid for sending senators home while House Republicans worked through the night to craft a solution to the shutdown, which is why Broun says Democrats are the ones to blame for the government closing its doors.
"They need to look in the mirror, because they're the ones to blame. They're the ones that shut the government down," he said.
While Broun said he's ready to end to the shutdown, he thinks ending Obamacare is a priority.
"The president himself has admitted it's a disaster through his own action," said Broun, who took office in 2007.
He was referring to 204 waivers that were issued to members of Congress and several big businesses, including a high-end restaurant in
Nancy Pelosi's district.
"He has exempted his big-business buddies, and he stuck it to the middle class, he stuck it to small family businesses, he stuck it to hard-working Americans and said he'll protect his big-business buddies while making Obamacare go into effect for all the middle class in this country, and that's what Republicans are trying to stop."
Broun, who also is a physician, said Obamacare should be replaced immediately: "We need to defund it, delay it, repeal it and replace it with something that makes sense."
Broun has a replacement plan for Obamacare ready to go — his
Patient Option Act.
"Patient Option Act would put in place a policy that is market-based, is patient-centered. It will make healthcare cheaper for every single American," Broun said. "It will provide access to good, quality healthcare for all Americans, and it's going to save Medicare from going broke."
But he said Reid and other Democrats won't consider his bill, or attempt to make any concessions when it comes to healthcare law.
"We've offered Reid plan after plan, and he just rejects it and says no, you do it my way, period. And it's not fair to the American people. It's not fair to the governmental workers. It's not fair to anybody in this country," he said.
They're acting like spoiled children, Broun said.
"They're saying no, I want to have it my way,” Broun said. “And that's exactly what President Obama is saying to the American public, that's exactly what Harry Reid's doing. The American people deserve better, they need better, and must demand better from President Obama and from Harry Reid."
Related Stories:
WSJ Rips New Obamacare Exemption for Congress
Broun: Obamacare Already arming Economy
Obama Blames Shutdown on 'Ideological Crusade'
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.