GOP Rep. Bill Cassidy: "Cost Containment" Key to Health Care Reform
His comments came during the lunch break of President Obama's health care summit that has proved long, passionate, and at times contentious. Cassidy was part of House Republican leader John Boehner's 17-member "Truth Squad" designed to rebut Democratic claims during the summit.
Cassidy, a doctor, adamantly expressed his distaste for higher premiums he believes will come from the proposed Senate health care legislation.
"Sure, when the president says cost will go up 10-13 percent, but that's because you have a richer package, Republicans will reply and say wait a second, the very fact that it goes up 10-15 percent means that people won't be able to afford it."
The issue of premium increases was a key point of contention during the first part of the summit.
Shieffer also asked Cassidy about the back-and-forth between Mr. Obama and McCain over the transparency of the 2,400 page health care bill.
During the summit, McCain accused the Democrats of backroom deals in creating the health care bill, reneging on Mr. Obama's promises during the 2008 campaign. Mr. Obama replied by telling McCain "We're not campaigning anymore, the election ' s over."
"I'm reminded of that every day," McCain replied. (Read more on the exchange.>)
Cassidy said that McCain's comments were justified. "The American people wanted to be involved during the process," he said. "This has not been."
Watch just the interview with Cassidy above, or watch the whole special edition of "Washington Unplugged" below, which also includes CBS News' Mark Knoller, Politico's Mike Allen, the Washington Post's editorial writer Marc Thiessen and White House spokeswoman Linda Douglass.
"Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.
More Coverage of the Health Care Summit:
Live Blog: Hotsheet Tracked the Whole Summit Point by Counterpoint
Marc Ambinder: The Summit was a Tie -- And That's Good News for GOP
Reaction and Analysis on Washington Unplugged
Fact Check: The Health Care Summit
Obama Urges Republicans to Do Some "Soul Searching"
Obama: Americans Aren't "Sultans" Who Can Afford Great Health Coverage
Few Women at Health Care Summit
Obama to McCain: "The Election's Over"
All Hotsheet Coverage