For the past two nights, late-night Jimmy Kimmel has been doing battle with Republican politicians and conservative media over the latest bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
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The heart-wrenching story of Jimmy Kimmel's infant son explains why he's so passionate about healthcare
Jimmy Kimmel's son, Billy, is the reason he is so invested in the future of the Republican healthcare bills.
Some conservative outlets like the National Review and conservative commentators on Fox News attacked Kimmel for inserting himself into the debate over the so-called Graham-Cassidy healthcare legislation, arguing that he is going well beyond his expertise.
In his monologue on Wednesday night, Kimmel explained why the healthcare debate is personal for him and why he feels he needs to comment on it.
"The reason I'm talking about this is because my son had open heart surgery and has to have two more," Kimmel said. "Because of that, I learned that there are kids with no insurance in the same situation. I don't get anything out of this."
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In May, Kimmel introduced his connection to the healthcare debate. His son Billy was born with
Billy's helping me write to... @ Jimmy Kimmel
Kimmel argued during an emotional Tuesday night monologue that the Graham-Cassidy legislation did not meet the "Kimmel test." He said Cassidy had lied to his face.
While Kimmel admits he is not an expert, his comments are aligned with analysis from health policy analysts at the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation and Avalere Health. The left-leaning Commonwealth Fund and the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, as well as the conservative-leaning Manhattan Institute, have also echoed his points.
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