At the presidential library in his hometown of Little Rock, Ark., Bill Clinton argued on Wednesday why the U.S. needs the Affordable Care Act and suggested the GOP stop trying to block the health policy, USA TODAY reported.
"We need all hands on deck here. The health of our people, the security and stability of our families and the strength of our economy are all riding on getting health care reform right and doing it well," Clinton said. "That means we have to do it together."
Clinton's speech is the beginning of a series of events launched by the White House to help educate the public about the health law, as parts like open enrollment and health insurance exchange will be enacted Oct. 1.
The former president specifically outlined elements of the Affordable Care Act and discussed how each will help lower health care costs and insure more people.
"It's better than the current system," Clinton argued. "This gives us the best chance we've had to achieve nearly universal coverage...provide higher quality health care and limit cost increases."
Many members of the GOP depict the Affordable Care Act, which they usually refer to as "Obamacare," as costly and invasive. Republican Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas are currently leading a plan aimed at preventing any funding to Obama's health care act and are fierce allies of the Tea Party.
Lee and Cruz are joined by few other Republican lawmakers who are willing to result to a government shutdown to stop funding for the Affordable Care Act, despite a recent poll that suggested a majority of Americans do not support their mission.
This is not the first time Obama has received help from Clinton in his effort for health care reform. Clinton also worked on Obama's reelection campaign in 2012 and delivered a famous speech in support of the then-presidential candidate at the Democratic National Convention.
