Video: Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen on Trump, Obamacare and The Wall
By Kevin Coughlin
During the primaries, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) was no fan of Donald Trump, a candidate he described as a pushy character who sowed division by insulting people.
But he has a different take of the man who will be sworn in Friday as America’s 45th president.
“I think when he assumes office on Jan. 20, I’m not sure he will change his style. But I think he’ll do a good job as commander-in-chief,” Frelinghuysen said at Monday’s 32nd annual Morris Interfaith Breakfast, honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Morristown.
In an interview with MorristownGreen.com, the congressman also said he supports repealing Obamacare when his Republican colleagues come up with a replacement plan.
“Certainly there’s a real demand that we do something. We made a promise [to provide a new plan], but I do like the expression, the Hippocratic Oath: ‘Do no harm.’ So I think we’re going to proceed with caution,” he said.
Frelinghuysen said about 7,000 of his constituents from Morris, Sussex, Passaic and Essex counties have contacted his office about Obamacare, as the Affordable Care Act is known, and three-quarters of them have voiced concerns about their care under the act.
Many have lost access to their personal physicians. Some complain of high deductibles and premiums. And some states now have only one insurance carrier, Frelinghuysen said. Hospitals are growing too big through consolidations, and doctors are quitting because their malpractice insurance is too costly, he said.
As for the 20 million people insured for the first time under Obamacare, he said he expects they will receive better care under a Republican plan.
The biggest challenge, he said, will be determining how to continue coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, which he cited as the biggest driver of insurance costs. He also favors keeping young people on their parents’ health plans until age 26, a popular provision of Obamacare.
A watchdog group called NJ 11th for Change showed up at the congressman’s Morristown office last week to urge him to keep Obamacare, unless he can come up with something better. Frelinghuysen said he wasn’t trying to dodge the protesters.
“I’m busier than I have been, so it’s not a question of not wanting to meet with people, just a question of coordinating my schedule.” He attended a Chinese New Year’s celebration in the District on Sunday, he said.
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL?
Frelinghuysen gave a measured response when asked if tax dollars should build the border wall that Trump promised Mexico would underwrite. Some GOP lawmakers have expressed interest in getting started while the new president figures how to compel Mexico to foot the bill later.
“As we proceed, Congress will work with the White House to see if the wall, whether it’s virtual or a permanent structure, that we can afford it and it’s done well,” said Frelinghuysen.
About 600 miles of wall already exists, he said.
“I think in some areas we need to continue to build a physical wall, but I think we need to make sure we have a virtual wall, eyes in the sky. Because there are a lot of people coming into our country not necessarily seeking a better life, but those who are involved in human trafficking, the drug trade and doing all sorts of things in terms of criminal activity.
“We spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year paying for the Immigration and Naturalization Service, as well as law enforcement all along the border of certain portions of California, Arizona and Texas right now. And probably more because we don’t have a physical wall in some of those places,” Frelinghuysen said.
As for the incoming commander-in-chief, Frelinghuysen gave this assessment:
“I think for the last eight years, with all due respect to President Obama, he’s been leaning back, and our adversaries around the world, primarily the Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians, the North Koreans, they’ve taken advantage of the president’s ambivalence about national defense.
“One thing about Donald Trump is that he has strong feelings about national defense, and he’ll be supportive of our military, particularly our Special Forces people,” said Frelinghuysen.
It’s terribly frightening to me that Rep.Frelinghuysen is an example of the type of legislative elements we must now rely so heavily upon to keep President Trump in check. Mr. Frelinghuysen’s example, unfortunately, is weak and obfuscating the exact type of confused and misguided foil Trump wants, needs and expected to have in order to proceed to dismantle so many programs and agencies that have been so painfully developed and put in place over decades. May God have mercy on us all.
Now we know where you stand, Hon. Frelinghuysen! Now we know what you are made of. Now we know your true colors. You are subservient and borderline hypocritical. Are you planning to retire anytime soon? It’s time that you make room for new blood.
Congressman Frelinghuysen for the last 8 years has been part of the problem on the Hill who has placed petty part politics over the national interest leading to government gridlock and promoting government dysfunction. He is part of the problem. Note all he does is typical Republican Congressman who whine and complain and offer no solutions. It is way pass time for change.
As a Rodney constituent I am extremely disappointed. On foreign policy, Trump appears intent on unraveling institutions that have kept the world safe from Nuclear war since WW2. I’m not sure he knows what he is doing but I expect that White Nationalist and Trump advisor Steve Bannon is cheering him on. This is NOT a traditional Republican view of the world. In terms of the ACA, repealing the ACA results in a huge tax break for the top 1% but will leave many with no health care. The Republicans HAVE NO PLAN. Finally, Rodney has been dodging his constituents. I don’t buy the “too busy” argument. YOU WORK FOR US.
Rodney’s talking points are straight out of the DC GOP playbook. They’re filled with inaccuracies and short on details. Trying to lump in hospital size and malpractice insurance is disingenuous as the ACA is not related to either of those issues. Of course the Congressman fails to blame the insurance companies that direct nearly every layer of healthcare in this country. It is because of these behemoths and their complete control that many physicians are leaving the field, not the ACA.
In regards to Trump, Congressman, with all due respect, if you believe that Trump has displayed the skills that are needed to be a strong Commander in Chief than I have to question your judgment, sir.
Your constituents are educated and informed and we recognize when we are being fed baseless facts such as benefits of a wall. The GOP’s ridiculous spending plan and set of policies are not going to fly here. We are well aware that a border wall will cost more to build, maintain, and secure than any other project on the table, with no statistical benefit. We are also aware that repealing the ACA will increase the debt, increase healthcare costs, and cost us jobs. Why you wouldn’t work with and improve what’s already on the books is beyond comprehension.
I hope in the days to come the Congressman will find his spine and truly represent the people of NJ 11.
Apparently, Rodney overlooked the constituents who voiced their concerns about the repeal of the ACA like removing access to free preventive services, including birth control and barriers to care for pre-existing conditions. A history lesson, Rep Frelinghuysen, patients have been losing access to their doctors and premiums have been increasing long before the ACA because we insist on relying on a for-profit insurance system that puts profit over patients. Malpractice costs and the need for reform so doctors can perform good work without fear of being sued has been argued for decades and still never resolved. In instead of touting the party line of replacing the ACA with the mysterious, unproven something better. Your effort would be better utilized improving a law that has benefit most of his constituents in one form or another.
Here’s an example of what Rodney thinks will be a “good commander-in-chief.”
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2015/12/17/what-is-nuclear-triad-debate-sot.cnn
Can’t trust Trump; can’t trust Rodney.
Rep. Frelinghuysen, your vote to begin repeal of the ACA shows that you are confident that your constituents who don’t have employer-provided health insurance–such as me and my family–will be able to get affordable insurance under the Republican alternative. To demonstrate common cause with people like me, will you pledge to drop your own employer-provided insurance, and rely solely on the replacement plan for your family’s health care?
I find it terribly troubling that Representative Frelinghuysen would embrace weakening our NATO alliances and find comfort in breaking our military treaties with our allies – Donald Trump has made it very clear that he is taking advice from Steve Bannon and Michael Flynn – both are strong proponents for creating a Russian/US axis – building a shocking and dangerous world order of white European nationalist countries and the whole scale destruction of Arab counties. Where does Rodney Frelinghuysen stand on this?
And does our US Represenative understand that we are all aware that Tillerson, much like Trump, is up to his eyeballs in conflicts of interest? That we are aware of his business dealings as the CEO of ExxonMobile and his $500 billion deal with Putin to drill in the arctic that will go thru once the US sanctions are lifted – and that this all looks terribly shady to us. Trump is a con man. This a crime.
Whatever District 11 constituents really feel about health coverage, Mr. Frelinghuysen gives only a laundry list of complaints, and no alternative ideas. Complaints are easy; where’s the counterplan? ACA opponents have had lots of chances to think of one.
Nothing in Trump’s behavior or tweets suggests we should believe he has a plan or the disposition to be a good leader. He has “strong feelings” about everything and everyone, either tremendous! or sad! – but we see no plans. We see what should be clearly disqualifying behavior and conflicts of interest. We see angry and petulant behavior from a now dangerous narcissist whose closest analogue is Putin. We see a president elect who has little knowledge or reverence for democratic principles. Shame on you for putting all reason aside.
Rep. Frelinghuysen, New Jersey is blue and your district is watching now. We are calling and writing and showing up. You may not agree to a Town Hall, but we will get your attention in 2018.
Representative Frelinghuysen being very dishonest here. People may have concerns about how the ACA is run, but that is because they want it improved, not repealed–and he knows that. He also knows that hospitals consolidating and the price of malpractice insurance has absolutely nothing to do with the ACA.
And he is supporting the wall? Really? No one who studies immigration reform thinks a wall is a good idea. And he thinks Donald Trump is strong on national defense in terms of Russia? What happened to the moderate republican who used to represent us? It’s like he sold his soul to most extreme, least patriotic elements in government.
Rodney,
Everyone regardless of party wants the President to be successful.
However, no one, including you, can support a plan..when there is no plan.
When we are given details of the plan, we can evaluate it.
Finally, I hope the new President supports the troops. However, we have not seen any details.
We cannot support a plan..when there is no plan.