A host of Democrats, with their eyes on the 2020 presidential election, are pushing plans for expanding healthcare coverage, but stopping short of endorsing “Medicare for All,” Politico is reporting.
And the website noted it is irking liberals in the party, who do not want to see any attempt to water down their “Medicare for All” proposal.
“It’s easy to say ‘Medicare for All’ and make a good speech, but see no action,” said Sen. Sherrod Brown D-Ohio, a possible 2020 candidate. His bill would give retiring police and firefighters access to Medicare before 65. “I want to see action.”
In all, Democrats have introduced eight plans for expanding health coverage beyond Obamacare’s gains, Politico noted.
The website noted they included modest Medicare reforms and ambitious restructuring that would extend government healthcare to millions.
“If we could make the leap straight to Medicare for All, I would love for us to do that,” Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said.
“But it’s important to lay out a route about how we get to that vision. If you tell people the only choice they have is Medicare, that could produce a lot of folks being concerned about, ‘Wait a minute, I like my health care and you’re telling me I have to leave it.'”
But others are pushing for a floor vote on Medicare for All before the elections.
“We want a floor vote soon because we want it to be part of the presidential conversation, so certainly before the Iowa caucuses,” said Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.
And Julian Castro launched his presidential campaign by pledging support for "Medicare for All."
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