‘Medicare For All’ In Spotlight As 2020 Race Begins In Earnest, But Rumblings Of ‘Medicare For More’ Ramp Up On Hill
"Medicare for All" is on the agenda for liberal candidates pitching their hats into the 2020 race -- including Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) who announced her candidacy on Monday. But a more incremental approach, such as opening Medicare to more demographics, is gaining traction with some of the more moderate lawmakers in the party.
Politico:
Democrats’ Plan To Neuter Medicare For All Irks Liberals
Medicare for All may be progressives' rallying cry. But it’s Medicare for More that’s likely to wind up becoming reality. Several likely 2020 Democratic presidential candidates are pushing plans for something short of universal health care, a move already creating friction within the party's empowered left wing, which has panned any attempt to water down the progressive dream of a single-payer system. (Ollstein and Cancryn, 1/22)
The Associated Press:
Pelosi 'Playing Chess On 3 Boards' With Health Care
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is laying out her strategy on health care and first up is improvements to "Obamacare" and legislation to lower prescription drug costs. "Medicare for all" will get hearings. Pelosi and President Donald Trump have been sounding similar themes about the need to address the high drug costs. But her plans to broaden financial help for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act are unlikely to find takers among Republicans. (1/22)
The Associated Press:
Democrats Lurch Left On Top Policies As 2020 Primary Begins
Democratic presidential contender Julian Castro launched his campaign by pledging support for "Medicare for All," free universal preschool, a large public investment in renewable energy and two years of free college for all Americans. That wasn't enough for some of his party's most liberal members. (Peoples, 1/22)
The Washington Post:
Sen. Kamala Harris’s 2020 Policy Agenda: $3 Trillion Tax Plan, Tax Credits For Renters, Bail Reform, Medicare For All
Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) will run for president proposing a nearly $3 trillion tax plan, billions in tax credits to low-income renters, a Medicare-for-all health-care system, and a reduction in cash bail for inmates charged with criminal offenses, her aides said. Harris announced her candidacy Monday. (Stein, 1/21)
