Republican US Senator Scott Brown today brushed off criticism about his use of President Obama's health care reform law to insure his daughter, despite Brown's own opposition to the law.
Republican US Senator Scott Brown signs autographs after speaking at Bunker Hill Community College May 2, 2012.Republican U.S. Senator Scott Brown today brushed off criticism about his use of President Obama's health care reform law to insure his daughter, despite Brown's own opposition to the law.
Brown's Democratic opponent Elizabeth Warren has called Brown hypocritical for taking advantage of a provision in Obama's health care overhaul allowing children to stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26. Brown's daughter Ayla is 23.
Today, speaking to reporters after a speech on bipartisanship at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, Brown said he was actually taking advantage of the law in Massachusetts that allows children to remain on their parents' insurance plan until age 24.
"You can do that in Massachusetts, I voted for that," Brown said. Massachusetts' current health care system was put in place by presumptive Republican presidential nominee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.
"For (Warren) to call me a hypocrite as to how Gail and I provide for our family, it's sad," Brown said, referring to his wife, Gail Huff.
Brown said he supports the Massachusetts plan, not Obama's national law, which he said took a "one size fits all approach." But he acknowledged that there could be positive features that are part of the Democratic president's overhaul.
"This isn't news," Brown said. "I've said this for almost two years. If there are things in federal plan we like, like the fact you can cover your kid until 26 in the federal plan, we should incorporate it here in Massachusetts."