Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) clashed Wednesday during a contentious discussion over the Affordable Care Act at a Senate hearing for President Trump’s surgeon general nominee, Casey Means.

“When we start talking about health care not being affordable, the ranking member and I agree on that,” Mullin said, referring to Sanders, who chairs the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. “The problem is that you supported the very tools that got us to where health care is unaffordable because the ACA’s affordable health care, which is completely unaffordable, has risen three times faster than inflation itself, yet we still support it. Not ‘we’, you…”

“I support a national health care program that can reduce the cost,” the Vermont senator responded. Mullin declared that it was his time to speak, prompting Sanders to shout, “But you’re attacking me.”

The Oklahoma Republican continued his long rant blaming Sanders why the healthcare system is in shambles and “100% not affordable.” Mullin then criticized Sanders for not admitting that the ACA “doesn’t work” and for “rebuking” any lawmakers who try to “make changes.”

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) got into a heated exchange during a Senate hearing Wednesday.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) got into a heated exchange during a Senate hearing Wednesday.

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“God forbid we change and chase and try to fix our broken system,” Mullin said before adding that he had “ranted too much.”

“Yes, you did,” Sanders said, setting in motion a lengthy response from Mullin.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t ask your opinion on that. And if I cared about your opinion, I would ask, but I don’t care about your opinion,” he responded, stating that Sanders is “part of the system” and “part of the problem.”

“You’ve been sitting here longer than I’ve been alive,” Mullin continued. “This is your problem. You should have solved it a long time ago… What have you been doing?”

“I decided not to run for surgeon general,” Sanders responded. He then gestured to Means and said, “You are the nominee. I have decided not to accept that nominee.”

“That’s definitely something we would never accept,” Mullin responded, referring to Sanders’ comment about not running for surgeon general.

The two legislators have some history. Late last year, the two clashed on the Senate floor after Sanders blocked a bipartisan bill on childhood cancer research. The former presidential candidate wanted to amend the bill to include funding for community health centers.

Mullin, who brought the bill to the floor, accused Sanders of “literally killing children in front of us because of his political movement.”