Lindsey Graham doesn't back Donald Trump's IVF proposal – but says Congress could find 'common ground'
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he could see a bipartisan way forward to help American families afford in-vitro fertilization, but stopped short of fully endorsing former President Donald Trump's recent call for the government or insurance companies to fund the fertility treatment.
Graham appeared on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday where he said he would support a means-tested tax credit for IVF users "to encourage people to have children." However, the former president's staunch ally said he would not support mandating insurance companies fully cover IVF saying, "there's no end to that."
This week, the former president said he wanted the government or insurance companies to cover "all costs associated" with the treatment. His promise to Americans comes just over two months from Election Day and as his stances on abortion and reproductive rights are under scrutiny.
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Graham, who voted against a recent bill that would have protected access to IVF, added that he saw Trump's statements about IVF as a signal of support because "We've been accused, the party has, of being against birth control. We're not. We've been accused of being against IVF treatments. We're not."
Despite a lack of full agreement on Trump's promise, Graham still offered the tax credit alternative, saying he believes there could be a bipartisan solution.
"I'll talk to my Democratic colleagues," Graham said. "We might be able to find common ground here."
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on Sunday also told "Meet the Press" that GOP lawmakers support access to IVF services for American families, but he noted that Republicans would "have to evaluate the fiscal impact, whether the taxpayer can afford to pay for (Trump's proposal), what impact it would have on premiums."