Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) asserted on Tuesday that shutting down the government over President Barack Obama’s health care reform law was a productive exercise “because we haven’t had a big debate about Obamacare, really, since it passed.”

Speaking to CNN host Kate Bolduan, Paul declared that Republicans had attempted to compromise with the president by delaying the health care reform law for a year.

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“You know, I think it was helpful to talk more about — we haven’t had a big debate about Obamacare, really, since it passed in Congress,” Paul opined. “In my state, there’s only going to be two insurance companies, used to be 30. Now there’s going to be two. And one of my choices doesn’t cover me out of state. So, when I travel up here and because of all this shutdown, I have a heart attack, I want my insurance to cover me here. But under Obamacare, it’s not going to cover me in Washington.

More: Rand Paul: ‘We Haven’t Had a Big Debate About Obamacare’