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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBernie Sanders's Medicare-for-All plan is only a start. But it's the right start.
By Jared Bernstein September 14 at 9:55 AM
Jared Bernstein, a former chief economist to Vice President Biden, is a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and author of the new book 'The Reconnection Agenda: Reuniting Growth and Prosperity.'
Excerpts:
Current political realities require building on these gains, inclusive of all stakeholders. It is interesting and notable that Sanders not only clearly gets this, but was himself one of the most energetic defenders of the ACA during the recent Republican attempts to repeal it.
Thus, what I hear Sanders implicitly saying is that weve got to walk and chew gum. We must both respect path dependency and act incrementally while at the same time envisioning and plotting a new path toward a much more progressive future.
This is why I find his plan, and the fact that it has all these co-sponsors, so downright inspiring. Look around, fellow progressives. I cant speak for you, but what I see is a horribly cramped debate in every area that matters to me, including taxes, health care, climate, immigration, inequality, public investments, and so on. The indefatigable Sanders is trying his damnedest to blast that cramped debate wide open. Finally, a Democrat willing to envision a much different, more equitable political economy!
Sanderss plan only starts this conversation, and the plan itself is actually highly modular. I can easily envision more moderate, path-dependent/incremental Democrats saying, I agree with where Sen. Sanders wants to go here, but to minimize the disruptions and costs to the system, we must significantly extend the transition period. That is, add a Medicare buy-in to the ACA and very gradually expand eligibility (some call this Medicare for More).
For far too long, Democrats have way over-negotiated with themselves, starting debates where they wanted to end up, and getting pushed hard to the right by conservatives. Sanderss plan is one of the few Ive seen for a long while that sees the folly in this and takes strong, corrective action. So go Bernie!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/09/14/bernie-sanders-startsthats-startsan-important-conversation-about-health-care
Eliot Rosewater
(31,109 posts)oops, i am not allowed to bring that up, am i.
George II
(67,782 posts)comradebillyboy
(10,143 posts)KPN
(15,642 posts)Have you not googled it?
Here's a link to the bill:
Medicare for All Act of 2017
[link:https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/09/medicare-for-all-tax-policy/539715/|
George II
(67,782 posts)KPN
(15,642 posts)how the law they propose will be paid for?
As for how it will be paid for, Bernie and others have already listed numerous options. Have you looked at any of that?
Some links:
[link:https://berniesanders.com/medicareforall/|
[link:https://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/options-to-finance-medicare-for-all?inline=file|
Hope that helps.
George II
(67,782 posts)....no specific rates but he details the taxes that would be imposed to pay for the program - existing Federal health care sources, increase personal income taxes on top 5% of earners, instituting a progressive excise tax on payroll and self-employment income, instituting a tax on unearned income, tax on stock and bond transactions, etc.
KPN
(15,642 posts)Kudos for leading the way.
MineralMan
(146,286 posts)When will it come to the floor for a vote?
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)Nanjeanne
(4,950 posts)the income you receive. Truck driver, executive, social worker, janitor, teacher -- all deserving of the same quality care. What a cool idea. You'd think other countries would have thought of this . . . oh wait . . .