Medicare for All is shaping up to be one of the biggest political issues for Democrats this year. Major 2020 Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Cory Booker all support some form of government-run healthcare. In February, more than 100 Democratic House members co-sponsored a Medicare for All plan introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is a notable exception. She did not endorse the House bill, and she’s been openly skeptical of the costs. In fact, a top Pelosi aide privately sought to undermine Medicare for All at a private health policy meeting in November, several sources told Politico.
No on Medicare for All
Pelosi’s longtime adviser on health care policy, Wendell Primus, attended the private meeting on Nov. 30 and cautioned the roughly two dozen people in attendance about the risks of Medicare for All, both financial and political, and encouraged them to speak out publicly against the proposed single-payer health care scheme, according to “multiple people familiar with the session.”
Primus was said to have explained that House Democratic leadership did not support the push from some in the party’s caucus toward socialized Medicare for All, in part because it risked drawing attention away from the leadership’s true focus on protecting and strengthening the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.
That summation came from six unnamed individuals — four who were in the meeting and two who’d been briefed on it. The general consensus on the true thrust of Primus’ comments fell somewhere between a request for the health policy groups to provide more analysis and data on the plan, versus a more underhanded invitation for those groups to openly discredit and distance themselves from the costly Medicare for All proposal.
One attendee said, “It came across as, we need this so we can get on with our agenda. Can you help us point out the problems?”
Denial from Pelosi’s office
Pelosi’s office denied the report in a statement to Politico. “Wendell absolutely did not ask for any kind of one-sided analysis of Medicare for All, and anyone who says otherwise wasn’t actually listening. As Democrats, across the entire spectrum, we believe in legislating based on facts, data and honest analysis,” said Henry Connelly, spokesman for the speaker.
“No one has anything to fear from good faith research on Medicare for All,” Connelly added, in reference to the suggestion that Primus had encouraged the health policy groups to dig in to the details of the single-payer health care proposals and share what had been learned with the public.
But this isn’t the only report of such behind-the-scenes meetings. According to a February report from The Intercept, Primus met with major health insurers in early December and assured them “that party leadership had strong reservations about single-payer health care and was more focused on lowering drug prices.”
Focus on saving Obamacare
Pelosi and other top Democratic leaders would prefer to spend their efforts on saving Obamacare from the Trump administration’s efforts to repeal it, Politico reported. Options include smaller movements centered on lowering prescription drug prices or protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions from being denied insurance coverage.
Politically, it’s a safer route than embracing the controversial Medicare for All scheme, which would completely surpass Obamacare in terms of government control over the nation’s health care system, and which would admittedly force tens of millions of unwilling Americans off their preferred private health insurance plans.
While a significant percentage of Americans approved of Medicare for All’s promised benefits, once they were informed of the cons — cost, increased taxes, loss of private insurance, delays in getting care — most people disapproved of it, according to a Kaiser poll in January.
This allegation of shadowy sabotage of Medicare for All proposals by a top Pelosi aide will likely not sit well with the far-left progressives in the Democratic Party, and given the manner in which the more radical progressives have been so outspoken in recent months, it will be interesting to see if a challenge toward Pelosi’s leadership is mounted by those who feel they’ve been scorned by the head of the party.
1,588 Responses
I think this is one of the most significant info for me. And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on few general things, The web site style is ideal, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers
Appreciate this post. Let me try it out.|
What’s up mates, fastidious piece of writing and fastidious urging commented at this place, I am truly enjoying by these.|
Hmm, I never thought about it that way. I do see your point but I think many will disagree
Hello, you used to write great, but the last several posts have been kinda boring? I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a little out of track! come on!
Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
I savour, result in I found just what I was taking a look for. You’ve ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
whoah this blog is excellent i really like studying your articles. Keep up the great work! You understand, many persons are searching around for this information, you can aid them greatly. |
I am truly glad to glance at this website posts which contains lots of helpful facts, thanks for providing such statistics.|
First of all I want to say superb blog! I had a quick question in which I’d like to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to know how you center yourself and clear your mind prior to writing. I have had a tough time clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out. I do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be wasted just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or hints? Thanks!|
I’ll immediately take hold of your rss as I can not in finding your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me know so that I could subscribe. Thanks.
Hey there fantastic website! Does running a blog similar to this require a large amount of work? I have very little knowledge of computer programming but I had been hoping to start my own blog soon. Anyway, if you have any ideas or tips for new blog owners please share. I know this is off subject nevertheless I simply needed to ask. Thanks a lot!|
This is a topic which is close to my heart… Many thanks! Where are your contact details though?|
Hi, I do think this is an excellent web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I will return once again since I saved as a favorite it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.|
Howdy I am so delighted I found your website, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Aol for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a fantastic post and a all round enjoyable blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the great jo.|
Cheers for this excellent. I was wondering whether you were planning of publishing similar posts to this. .Keep up the excellent articles!
I really appreciate this post. I have been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thx again
BY NO MEANS.. receive click here involved in ‘get paid out to be able to examine email’ websites, they are swindles and you won’t bring in your penny, and they also will not solution the electronic mails connected with grievance! MULTI LEVEL MARKEING also, or maybe actually any web site telling you that the funds will be doubled or trebled from a subject with nights, or perhaps you are going to become prosperous suddenly, are hoaxes. Stay away from these folks!! It may not be difficult to locate genuine dealers on-line. Seek out away call tips. The correct and also telephone range is a superb indication they are genuine. A further beneficial test out should be to send these individuals a strong e-mail prior to deciding to join to find exactly how efficiently many people response. Prevent the particular ‘Get-Rich-Quick’ plans. Hi-def operate!
As the admin of this web site is working, no doubt very rapidly it will be famous, due to its feature contents.|
Excellent blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol|
Hello there, just changed into aware of your weblog through Google, and located that it’s truly informative. I am gonna be careful for brussels. I will appreciate in the event you proceed this in future. Lots of other folks can be benefited from your writing. Cheers!|
Good info. Lucky me I came across your site by accident (stumbleupon). I’ve book-marked it for later!|
This is my first time pay a visit at here and i am in fact happy to read everthing at one place.|
I love what you guys are up too. Such clever work and exposure! Keep up the very good works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my own blogroll.
Some really interesting points you have written. Aided me a lot, just what I was looking for : D.
It is very rare these days to find sites that provide info someone is looking for. I am glad to see that your website share valued info that can help to many readers. nice one and keep writing!
Awseome article, I am a big believer in posting comments on blogs to inform the blog writers know that they’ve added some thing worthwhile to the world wide web!
Aw, this was a really nice post. In thought I want to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make an excellent article… but what can I say… I procrastinate alot and on no account seem to get something done.
It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I’m glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.|
That is incredibly attention-grabbing, You are an excessively professional blogger. I have joined your feed and appearance ahead to looking for more of your excellent content. Likewise, I’ve shared your blog in my social networks
Good post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Thanks!|
Ahaa, its fastidious conversation concerning this paragraph at this place at this web site, I have read all that, so at this time me also commenting here.|
Nghá» trang Ä‘iểm cho các show diá»…n thá»i trang, sá»± kiện của thÆ°Æ¡ng hiệu (chuyên viên trang Ä‘iểm)
Very nice article, exactly what I wanted to find.|
Nghá» trang Ä‘iểm cho các show diá»…n thá»i trang, sá»± kiện của thÆ°Æ¡ng hiệu (chuyên viên trang Ä‘iểm)
My wife and i were so thankful that Michael managed to carry out his studies from your precious recommendations he acquired using your web site. It is now and again perplexing to simply choose to be making a gift of secrets and techniques which often some other people have been making money from. And we also fully understand we have got the blog owner to be grateful to for this. The illustrations you’ve made, the easy site menu, the friendships you can aid to engender – it’s everything remarkable, and it is facilitating our son and the family believe that this topic is amusing, which is unbelievably essential. Many thanks for everything!
fantastic issues altogether, you just gained a brand new reader. What could you suggest in regards to your post that you just made some days ago? Any sure?
Great blog you have here but I was curious if you knew of any message boards that cover the same topics talked about here? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get advice from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please let me know. Many thanks!
Dạy trang điểm cá nhân
Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the web the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people consider worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks