VIDEO: Thune launches healthcare offensive in GOP address

The August recess battle over healthcare started early Saturday, with Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) arguing that Democratic proposals to reform healthcare “fall short” of what’s needed.

“Republicans want health care reform that works. Reform that brings down costs for families and small businesses, and reform that provides better care to more people,” Thune said in the weekly Republican radio address. “On all these points, the current proposals by the President and the Democrat leadership in Congress fall short.”

The address ostensibly kicks off what is expected to be a pitched battle between Republicans and the Obama administration as well as congressional Democrats over the fate of the healthcare bills left before the House and Senate.

Watch the video of the address below: