Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said Friday that he won't be returning to "Jimmy Kimmel Live" because he thinks the host "was very unfair" to him over their healthcare feud.
When asked during an interview on CBS News' "The Takeout" podcast if he would return to the show, Cassidy told host Major Garrett, "No, he was very unfair."
"Why would I go back in?" Cassidy continued. "So that he can mischaracterize what I say and later call [Senate Minority Leader and New York Democrat] Chuck Schumer and get Chuck Schumer's take on what I said?"
"Just took it from Chuck Schumer," he said. "Never learned that people in Texas and Florida would have billions available to give them coverage and currently they do not. And he subsequently said he doesn't care what Republicans think."
After Kimmel's son was born with a congenital heart defect, the host made an emotional plea for politicians to lower the cost of healthcare.
In response, Cassidy proposed a "Jimmy Kimmel test" that any healthcare solution would have to pass, and appeared on Kimmel's show to discuss healthcare. However, Kimmel took issue with the bill the senator proposed with Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., later that year.
"Coverage for all? No," Kimmel said. "Fact, it will kick about 30 million Americans off insurance. Pre-existing conditions? Nope. If the bill passes, individual states can let insurance companies charge you more if you have a pre-existing condition. You'll find that little loophole later in the document after it says they can't. They can, and they will. But will it lower premiums?
"Well, in fact, for lots of people, the bill will result in higher premiums. And as far as no lifetime caps go, the states can decide on that, too, which means there will be lifetime caps in many states. So not only did Bill Cassidy fail the Jimmy Kimmel test, he failed the Bill Cassidy test. He failed his own test. And you don't see that happen very much."
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.