Joseph Gerth

Opinion Columnist | Louisville Courier Journal

On Monday at a National Governors Association meeting with President Barack Obama, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin asked about the federal debt.

Obama turned the tables on him and launched into a defense of the Affordable Care Act, which Bevin opposes and has worked to dismantle Kentucky's health insurance exchange that was created under the health care law.

"Curious as to your thoughts on the debt of this nation and the lack of any political discourse on either side of the aisle in any of the debates," Bevin said.

Obama told Bevin that the federal deficit has gone down by two-thirds since he took office. Then he pivoted to talk about Obamacare, saying that the program has worked to hold down health care costs but then chiding Republicans who have opposed his health care reforms.

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"So my hope is is that we get into a serious conversation," Obama said. "Maybe it'll have to happen once I'm gone because the Affordable Care Act and the debate around health care has gotten so politicized, so toxic that we can't have a sensible conversation about it, despite the fact that I implemented a measure that was passed by a Republican governor ... and we've embraced cost-saving measures that used to be championed by Republicans and now, suddenly, this is some Obama scheme."

If the player doesn't appear above, you can watch the clip at C-SPAN.org

Joseph Gerth can be reached at 502-582-4702 or jgerth@courier-journal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Joe_Gerth.

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