Warren co-sponsoring Sanders's 'Medicare for All bill'

[Donkees]

BY REBECCA SAVRANSKY - 09/07/17 09:25 AM EDT


Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Thursday she is co-sponsoring Sen. Bernie Sanders's (I-Vt.) "Medicare for All bill," the latest Democrat to back a signature Sanders campaign issue. "I believe it’s time to take a step back and ask: what is the best way to deliver high quality, low cost health care to all Americans?" Warren, often considered a potential presidential candidate in 2020, said in a statement Thursday. "Everything should be on the table — and that’s why I’m co-sponsoring Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All bill that will be introduced later this month."


Warren joins Sanders, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and even more moderate Senators like Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who this week said that the idea deserves attention. Warren said Sanders's plan is a way for every person in the country to have access to high-quality health care. "Everyone is covered," she said. "Nobody goes broke paying a medical bill. Families don’t have to bear the costs of heartbreaking medical disasters on their own."


Warren called health care a basic human right, adding that it's "time to fight for it." She touted the accomplishments of ObamaCare, saying former President Barack Obama "deserves tremendous credit. But there's so much more we could do right now to bring down the costs of quality health care for every American," she wrote.


http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/349598-warren-co-sponsoring-sanders-medicare-for-all-bill

[SharonClark]

1. Thank you Donkee for the constant posts about Sanders.

Some of us would forget about his awesomeness if it weren't for you.
I wonder why you post and don't interact with the many people who respond to your posts. What is that about?

[Me.]

2. I've Wondered That Myself

His posts are usually responses to himself.

[TCJ70]

3. This is what leadership looks like...

...moving forward against adversity. There's little chance (approximately 0) that this will go anywhere...but keeping these ideas out in front is a good move. It keeps the conversation going.

[Demsrule86]

8. way more imporatant I am sure than saving the ACA from the Republicans by

maybe creating legislation to improve the ACA (sarcasm). You do know McCain has changed his vote right? He will now vote for repeal.

[TCJ70]

10. Republicans are going to do what they're going to do...

...we know that. Only public pressure will stop them from repealing the ACA. In the meantime, keeping our policies and positions out front is a good way to keep people informed on what the alternative to the current situation is.

[Demsrule86]

16. We won't stop it this time...not with McCain switching...in my opinion

We should spend our time working against repeal not aiming for pie in the sky bills that have no chance.

[TCJ70]

17. If we won't stop it this time...

...then what harm does it do for Bernie and Elizabeth to stay out there with our policy objectives? Let me ask you this: Do you think Medicare For All is a good goal?

[MontanaMama]

28. I've been saying this for months...

People are afraid of losing what the ACA has given them. They are ready to have the single payer / Medicare For All conversation because of that fear. Rethugs will do what they're going to do and why should we waste time worrying which way the wind is going to blow crazy old get-off-my-lawn McCain today. I'm a firm believer that once that message is heard by the masses, the tone of the conversation will change and the rethugs will be left scratching their asses once again. We can fight repeal and stay on message that MFA is where we want to go. We can and should do both.

[leftstreet]

4. DURec

[ProfessorGAC]

5. I Knew It

Before i opened the OP, i just knew it. There is nothing here right now that is safe from bomb throwers.

[LongTomH]

22. I know, I know!!!!

[Generic Other]

6. I don't care who sponsors it

I want it.

[Demsrule86]

14. Sadly, the GOP who own it all do not want it or any health care since they are about to repeal

the ACA so it won't happen.

[Demsrule86]

7. How exciting...what do you think the chances are of passing this bill?

Meanwhile, the ACA is about to be repealed... since McCain will change his vote...Perhaps a bill on fixing the ACA might work better in this situation. I have to say...I consider it a waste of time to have bills like this that have no chance of victory.

[leftstreet]

11. We keep hearing single payer 'has no chance of victory'

In fact we've been hearing it for decades

Maybe it's time to put it to the test and settle the question

[Demsrule86]

12. Great idea...I suggest you bring it to the floor...oh wait we have no way to do this...

[CloudsInMyCoffee]

9. Awesome! This is what looking forward looks like!

What is with the negative attitudes in this thread? Jeez people, we are talking about INSURING EVERYBODY! Check yourselves, this is a GOOD THING!

[Demsrule86]

13. Because it is based on nothing..realistically it won't pass...so what is the point?

There are so many more useful things Democrats in Congress could do.

[CloudsInMyCoffee]

24. It's based on many things

and to many of us this is an incredibly important issue. Obviously for you it isn't but allow me to show you why it is.

You say "what's the point?"

Well the point is that it shows Democrats finally coming around to single payer, something they haven't really been for. Recent polling says that 2/3rds of American's see Democrats as out of touch with the hopes and needs of the American people. This can and will help combat that. Especially now that the majority of American's favor a Government run health care system. It shows Dems addressing issues which American's find important to them on a personal level.

It's a campaign issue also for 2018 midterms and if we don't win midterms then it will become a major issue for 2020. You have to remember that the battle for health care is never short and is an incredibly long fight, see how long it took for the ACA as example and the sooner we start talking about it, engaging people with it, bringing bills to the floor that are for it, the better. It will be something that is going to be spoken of continuously.

Remember what Bernie said about looking ahead? This is a prime example of just that.

[Hortensis]

25. I'm with you, Clouds. We all know Democrats have always wanted single payer

as an ultimate, and even inevitable, goal, other forms merely achievable steps toward that.

Just as all aware people understand that for too many this and other issues are adopted mainly as platforms to shoot from. The last thing that type wanted was Hillary and a Democratic congress extending Medicare to the 55 and ups as a next step.

And I'm guessing from the theme of the your posts in your short time here that you're very aware.

[CloudsInMyCoffee]

33. Yup, insuring everybody is an awesome thing

and to see it actually reach the stage where it has a chance to become reality? I never thought I'd see it in my lifetime.

Yup, I'm very aware I'm just excited by it all.

[Demsrule86]

40. I am a practical person. I worry about issues that have a shot...at this moment single payer

doesn't. As for a campaign issue, I wouldn't go there. People understand and like the ACA and running on improving it would be a good thing...single payer is too easy for the GOP to demonize...even if we win the midterm, we won't be able to enact single payer with Trump in office. Even if we win the presidency, the House and the Senate at some point but by 2020, unless we have a 60 vote majority in the Senate, we won't be able to pass single payer. I am not convinced it is the best plan as practice by Canada and the UK. There are other European models that will work better. And with jobs becoming more and more important, I don't think higher taxes and higher job losses in insurance will be acceptable to most Americans.

But I will say this, if we lose the ACA, we lose healthcare for a generation. Thousand perhaps millions will die. There will be no single payer or anything else...protecting the ACA should be our number one job: not writing bills that have no chance to pass. We gave up our majority to pass the ACA...and the GOP are dead set against any form of health care...I don't when we will ever have the chance we had in 2009...maybe never. So perhaps we should try to save the ACA first and worry about single payer or some other plan later.

[Warren DeMontague]

31. odd, isn't it?

[CloudsInMyCoffee]

34. It is and one I don't understand myself

[MineralMan]

15. Well, OK, then. With Sanders and Warren behind it, it will

breeze through the Republican Senate and House, I'm sure.

How about we turn out in massive numbers in 2018 and 2020 and elect a Congress and President who will do what we want? Anything else is going to be a total waste of time and hope.

[TCJ70]

19. Isn't putting the Democratic parties ideas and policies out there part of driving that turn out?

People need to know what they're voting for. That's not only the responsibility of the local candidates, but also something that can be pursued at the national level even if the odds are 0 that it will come to pass.

[MineralMan]

20. Sure. Great idea. I support single-payer 100%

Right now, though, Republicans are in charge, and it's going to take all of our efforts to prevent them from taking this country back 50 years. I'd rather see people fighting that than spending their time promoting something that can't possible take place until we've regained control of our government.

We know what we're voting for. Let's hear campaigning on those things in 2018 and 2020. Right now, we're just trying to survive Republican control of all three branches of government. Let's fight that battle.

[TCJ70]

21. "We know what we're voting for." Yes. We do.

Those of us that post on message boards like this are a minor, minor subset of the population. Having articles and efforts like this to refer back to as evidence is only going to be helpful. We don't want to turn into the "Party of NO" do we? This is part of the fight. Putting ideas out there into the public sphere and being able to say "See what could be?"

[defacto7]

32. Good points.

See what will be!

[Warren DeMontague]

38. I really don't understand what exactly you're complaining about, here.

[Warren DeMontague]

37. How is proposing legislation- the job of Senators- mutually exclusive with winning in 2018?

Should they not be doing anything, while in DC? How is that going to get us more votes?

[OnDoutside]

18. Is it a good idea for Kamala Harris to be aligning with this, with 2020 in mind ?

[LongTomH]

23. Yeah, a majority now support single-payer.

[Demsrule86]

41. I don't believe that. And as soon as the GOP turns their fire on single payer,

and demonize it...the numbers will drop. Run on fixing the ACA and a public option for those who don't have adequate coverage...baby steps.

[leftstreet]

42. ACA was the 'baby step.' Time to move up n/t

[Demsrule86]

46. Right...the GOP owns it all so since we have so much power, we should go for it now.

If we lose the ACA, thousands of Americans will die. I have not idea why that doesn't seem to matter to most on this thread. That is real life and real people. And there is not a chance of getting single payer before 2020...and getting it then is unlikely in my opinion. We need a super majority...a bill to protect the ACA with a public option for those who are having trouble with the markets makes way more sense. We should not allow ideology to blinds us to what we must do now at this moment and that is save Americans from losing their healthcare when we have no way to fix it for years.

[LongTomH]

44. Ohhh, Yeah? Try this on for size.....

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/06/23/public-support-for-single-payer-health-coverage-grows-driven-by-democrats/

http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/339247-poll-support-grows-for-single-payer-healthcare

http://www.gallup.com/poll/191504/majority-support-idea-fed-funded-healthcare-system.aspx

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/07/20/new-poll-shows-nation-moving-left-healthcare-embracing-medicare-all

[Demsrule86]

45. As soon as the GOP starts demonizing it...all that goes up in flames. The ACA

is what we should defend...oh and have you seen the polls on gun control? People overwhelmingly support it...do you think it will be enacted anytime soon...you want a shot at single payer down the road, save the ACA. It is our only chance.

[Warren DeMontague]

36. Absolutely. Single Payer is a winner.

That's why Senator Kamala Harris and Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders are all on the same page!

[Hoyt]

26. Doesn't mean a lot. Warren was one of the Democrats who supported removal of the medical device tax

which was a major funding source for the ACA. Why? Because there are a lot of medical device companies in Massachusetts and they were upset.

[mvd]

30. She's a well known Democrat and I appreciate her support

While I wouldn't get rid of the medical device tax, no one IMO has a record I 100% agree with. Even Bernie. Sometimes Senators do think about their states. Overall she's been quite progressive. It isn't one of the biggest funding sources (although should be replaced) - I trust Warren would want to make up the difference. She is big on medical research.

[Warren DeMontague]

35. What exactly are you suggesting about Senator Elizabeth Warren?

please, elaborate.

[annabanana]

27. I really wish we had had this public support when the ACA was first

debated. We might at least have pulled off a public option in the exchanges...

[leftstreet]

43. We were told it would never pass

Of course

But thanks in large part to GOPers own angry, rambunctious town halls this year, no politician can escape that Americans want public healthcare

[Warren DeMontague]

29. Excellent. Senator Sanders, Warren and Harris are all fighting for what's right!

Hooray for Senators Sanders, Warren, and Harris!