'Not true': Fox News host hit with fact check from Dem on health care for 'illegals'
Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) fact-checked Fox News host Martha MacCallum on Republican claims that Democrats were fighting to protect health care for "illegals."
During a Thursday interview on Fox News, Coons explained why Democrats had not voted for a Republican resolution to fund the government.
"Martha, the issue that's right in front of us that is causing health insurance rates to go up in Delaware and every other state is the Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of this year," Coons said.
"So why do we have to deal with it now? Why can't we wait till December? Why can't we talk? Why can't we reopen the government and then talk?" the host asked.
"Because insurance companies have to set those rates now. So we need a path for reversing those cuts, for extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which only benefit Americans," Coons replied.
"There are people who came to the country illegally who got looped in under temporary protection status who do receive those benefits," MacCallum countered. "I understand that there's two sides to this argument, but that's, those are the people that are getting argued over right now."
"There's not two sides to this argument," Coons shot back. "The president said Democrats want to give a gold-plated Medicare program for illegal aliens. That's not true."
"You can only benefit from the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, and Medicaid if you have legal status in this country," he added. "We are not fighting for health care for people who are here illegally. That's not true. We are fighting for health care for Americans."