Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Booker Stands By 'Medicare For All' Plan, But Adds That He Would Take Pragmatic Approach As President
The Hill: Booker: I Support Medicare For All, But I'm A 'Pragmatist'
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) on Sunday said he supports the progressive "Medicare for All" health care plan, but noted that he is a "pragmatist" who is interested in looking for more "immediate" reforms to the system. "I stand by supporting 'Medicare for All' but I’m also that pragmatist," Booker, a 2020 presidential candidate, told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union." "I’m going to find the immediate things that we can do. I’m telling you right now we’re not going to pull health insurance from 150 million Americans that have private insurance, who like their insurance." (Birnbaum, 5/5)
Politico: Booker Backs 'Medicare For All' But Pledges 'Pragmatist' Approach
Booker's comments underscore the tensions playing out in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary between progressives pushing sweeping economic proposals and moderates saying that more incremental moves will be necessary if the party wins back executive power in Washington. Booker is one of several 2020 contenders co-sponsoring the Medicare for All bill introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). That legislation would expand government-run health coverage and shrink private health insurance. Sanders is polling ahead of most other Democrats running for president. (Warmbrodt, 5/5)
