Some of President Donald Trump’s most vocal opponents are buying into a series of plans to create a single-payer healthcare system.
Two Democratic senators – Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Cory Booker of New Jersey – announced on Monday their support of Bernie Sanders’ proposed ‘Medicare for All’ bill.
The bill is expected to be released by the Vermont Independent on Wednesday. It is supported by what Politico considers to be President Trump’s six most vocal critics on the Left.
The website notes that Sanders isn’t the only Democrat trying to reform and reduce American healthcare to a single-payer system.
Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii is currently constructing another bill, which would give citizens the chance to buy into Medicaid.
Schatz and Sanders said they would collaborate in supporting one another’s efforts by singing onto each other’s proposals, all as part of an effort to enhance the Democratic position on healthcare.
Politico considers Sanders, Schatz, and their fellow supporting senators to each be among the most likely to challenge President Trump in the 2020 general election. The universal support among the six for universal or optional single-payer healthcare could signal a shift in the Democratic Party’s priorities, given that single-payer would have been considered a political impossibility just years ago.
During the last election, Hillary Clinton dismissed the idea of single-payer healthcare as a bare-bones and impossible hypothesis.
Calling it “a theoretical debate about some better idea that will never, ever come to pass,” the failed presidential candidate waved off the stance that’s becoming increasingly popular among the Party’s most probable 2020 hopefuls.
“This is something that’s going to happen,” said Sen. Booker to NJTV News in his home state, announcing both his own legislation as well as his intended support of Sanders’. “Obamacare was a first step in advancing this country, but I won’t rest until every American has basic security that comes with having access to affordable healthcare.”
One possible presidential contender, Sherrod Brown (D-OH), said he isn’t likely to support Sanders’ bill, although he has been supportive of efforts to expand Medicare. Brown said his priority was ensuring that people 55 and older could buy into the program.
“I have always been supportive of Medicare for all,” he said in a Monday statement. “Right now, I’m focused on building bipartisan support for my bill to allow people to buy into the Medicare program at age 55, which will cut costs and expand choices for Ohioans.”
Sources
Democratic foes of Trump flock to single-payer ahead of 2020
Join the conversation!