Republican Senator Joni Ernst says she’s willing to bring Democrats into the negotiations on health care, although Ernst concedes many of her G-O-P colleagues are opposed to it.
[RIkayJEHarlan1] :21 :across the aisle.”
(as said) “I think you’d lose a lot of support from the Republican Conference because they really want their ideas addressed before they move on to, maybe, the Democratic Conference, but I want to find a way forward,” Ernst says. “…If that means, you know, visiting with other members, that’s o.k. I think you saw a lot of support here for working across the aisle.”

Ernst held a town hall meeting in Harlan Monday morning and spoke with reporters afterwards. Other Republicans have criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for suggesting it may be necessary to strike a bipartisan deal with Democrats since Republicans on their own haven’t agreed on a plan to repeal and replace the health care law. Ernst says if working with Democrats is what McConnell decides is necessary, she won’t criticize. “We have to find a solution,” Ernst told reporters in Harlan today. “We know the path we’re on is unsustainable.”

Ernst says the Affordable Care Act has created a “monopoly” in Iowa because there’s just one insurance company left for Iowans who qualify for federal subsidies and shop the so-called “exchange” to get a policy. Ernst took a number of questions about health care from people at Monday morning’s town hall in Harlan. Some expressed concerns about losing their insurance because of a pre-existing condition. Others complained the G-O-P’s plan to get rid of minimal coverage requirements for insurance policies will dramatically escalate out-of-pocket expenses. Ernst says she’s not sure what will wind up in the final plan. “I remain optimistic that we will find a way forward,” Ernst said.

Ernst says she’s offering her own amendments to the senators are who writing the G-O-P’s plan, but she’s not ready to publicly reveal those ideas yet.

(Radio Iowa)