Schwarzenegger calls GOP approach to health care 'bogus'
February 23, 2010
"I think any Republican that says you should start from scratch," with health care, "I think that's bogus talk, and that's partisan talk," the governor told reporters.
He also said Obama's approach to health care reform is appropriate -- hosting a forum that includes Republicans.
"Since half of the people are Republicans, why would you exclude Republicans?" he quipped. "Then half of the people hate you for having done health care reform."
On Sunday, Schwarzenegger told ABC's This Week he was proud to accept stimulus dollars for his state and praised the program for creating or saving over 150,000 jobs.
"I have been the first governor, of the Republican governors, to come out and to support the stimulus money because I say to myself, this is terrific," Schwarzenegger said.
In contrast to many Republicans, the California governor believes the stimulus has created and protected public and private sector jobs. "Anyone that says that it hasn't created the jobs, they should talk to the 150,000 people that have been getting jobs in California," he said.
"This is a hundred and fifty thousand people that are going home today with a check, that are providing for their family, that can buy textbooks for their kids, that are feeling wanted and needed and feeling productive," he exclaimed. "A better job isn't just a job, it's all those things."
Schwarzenegger also lashed out at GOP politicians who voted against the bill then took credit for benefits provided to their states on Sunday.
"Well, you know, to me I find it interesting that you have a lot of the Republicans running around and pushing back on the stimulus money and saying this doesn't create any new jobs," said Schwarzenegger. "Then, they go out and they do the photo ops and they are posing with the big check and they say, 'Isn't this great?'"
With earlier reporting by Gavin Dahl and David Edwards.
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