The Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in Texas, James Talarico, said his Christian faith inspired his plan to break up healthcare monopolies during a live podcast event with billionaire Mark Cuban on Saturday.
The former Dallas Mavericks owner and Talarico both laid out their respective plans during the event, which was hosted by Fox News anchor Jessica Tarlov.
Talarico said his plan includes breaking up large healthcare companies that he claims are “driving up” prices for consumers, giving patients more options when purchasing medications and stopping insurance companies from making healthcare decisions through denials.
“It is insane that one company can literally control the hospital where you pay to get care, the pharmacy where you pay for your medications, and the insurance company that decides how much you pay,” Talarico said. “It’s a racket.”
Cuban specifically cited CVS as one of the companies his plan would target.
Talarico, when speaking about how his faith relates to his healthcare policies, said Jesus spent much of his time in the New Testament “healing.”
’Go back and see what Jesus spends most of his time doing. It’s not preaching, it’s not teaching, it’s healing,” Talarico said.
“And that is what we’re called to do, whether you’re religious or not, is ensure that our neighbors have the care that they need. And that is going to be the end result of this plan,” Talarico said.
Cuban referenced a previous piece of bipartisan legislation known as the “Break Up Big Medicine Act” proposed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).
Cuban claimed that before agreeing to do the event, he asked Talarico if elected would he co-sponsor that bill, and the Senate hopeful said yes.
A recent Texas Public Opinion Research poll shows Democratic Talarico leading Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the race by 6 points, 48% to 42%.
Watch Talarico’s full event with Cuban here:
