Health Law Is Back as Campaign Issue--This Time for Democrats
MINNEAPOLIS—Republicans have often won support in recent elections by promising to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This year, Democrats hope to turn the tables by pushing the opposite goal—not just keeping the health law, but expanding government’s role in health care.
The tactic, which carries political risk as well as opportunity, is playing out in places such as Minnesota, a state won narrowly by Hillary Clinton in 2016 that is facing a governor’s race, two Senate contests and five close House races. Democrats need to gain 23 House seats to retake the chamber, so the state is critical.
Nationally, the health-care landscape is unsettled in the aftermath of the failed GOP push to repeal the ACA. Democrats acknowledge the law has problems but want to repair and expand it; Republicans are still pushing to dismantle it. Adding to this volatile mix, insurance premiums are set to be announced shortly before the November election.
Minnesota officials embraced the ACA, and Democrats believe a backlash against the Republican repeal efforts gives them an advantage there. They are pillorying Republicans like Rep. Erik Paulsen on social media for backing the repeal. Near a highway in suburban Minnetonka, a yellow billboard funded by a Democratic super-PAC links Mr. Paulsen to higher health-care costs. His challenger, Democrat Dean Phillips, an heir to a liquor fortune, has been driving around the district in a vintage 1960s red-white-and-blue milk truck, handing out lemonade on warm days.
“I believe there’s a role for government in health-care coverage,” said Mr. Phillips, who supports a plan to make Medicare available to everyone. “Health care is one of my top priority issues. I drive the truck and talk to people—health care with very few exceptions is on everybody’s mind.”
Mr. Paulsen’s office didn’t respond to a request for an interview. On his campaign website, the congressman says he supports such “bipartisan, common sense” ideas as allowing the sale of insurance across state lines and ensuring coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.
In Minnesota and elsewhere, Democratic candidates are responding to a push from party activists to move beyond the ACA and expand coverage further. The risk, party operatives say privately, is that while embracing this position could help candidates win primaries, it could be less popular among centrist voters in a general election.
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In last March’s special House race in Pennsylvania, where Democrat Conor Lamb bested GOP opponent Rick Saccone deep in Trump country, voters cited health care as a major factor, according to Public Policy Polling, a Democratic firm. And in Virginia, when Democrat Ralph Northam defeated Republican Ed Gillespie for governor last November, voters said health care was the most important issue, according to an NBC News exit poll.
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In an effort to energize the Democratic base while also attracting centrists, some Democratic candidates have taken to advocating a “public option” for health care. More limited than a single-payer system, this option would create a government-run insurance plan to be offered alongside private coverage, possibly by letting more people into Medicare or Medicaid.
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https://www.wsj.com/articles/democrats-campaign-on-health-care-expansion-in-wake-of-gops-failed-aca-repeal-1526040001
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