Ted Cruz says Senate health plan still not meeting his objectives

AUSTIN, TX - JULY 6: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) discusses issues with concerned citizens after holding a town hall meeting on July 6, 2017 in Austin, Texas. AUSTIN, TX - JULY 6: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) discusses issues with concerned citizens after holding a town hall meeting on July 6, 2017 in Austin, Texas. Photo: Erich Schlegel, Getty Images Photo: Erich Schlegel, Getty Images Image 1 of / 56 Caption Close Ted Cruz says Senate health plan still not meeting his objectives 1 / 56 Back to Gallery

Despite nearly a week of behind the scenes wrangling, the Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare still isn't meeting U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's primary objectives.

"I'm trying to bring folks together to unite the conference behind the shared goal: Let's lower premiums," Cruz told reporters as he left a town hall meeting in Austin.

But asked if the Senate plan does that yet, Cruz was clear: "not sufficiently."

Cruz came to Austin determined to talk about veterans issues, but more than 200 protesters outside had different plans and a half-dozen successfully infiltrated the event he was holding to confront him on health care.

Gary Marsh, a 67-year-old Austin resident, interrupted Cruz's presentation about 30 minutes into the hour long even to press him on why he's not fixing the problems with Obamacare instead of trying to repeal it entirely.

Instead of having Marsh and the other protesters dragged out, Cruz let Marsh continue for several minutes before reiterating the failures he sees with Obamacare.

"I think it was a good opportunity to have the exchange," Cruz said of why he didn't cut the protesters off.

Cruz came to Austin determined to talk about veterans issues, but more than 200 protesters outside had different plans and a half-dozen successfully infiltrated the event he was holding to confront him on health care.