Bernie Sanders will foil Senate Republicans' single-payer trolling
Source: Vox
The Washington Examiner reported Wednesday night that Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) is planning to propose an amendment during debate this week to create a single-payer health care system.
Daines doesnt himself support single-payer. But his amendment is an attempt to splinter the Democratic caucus and expose the minority partys divisions on how to reform the health care system. Republicans are struggling mightily to find 50 votes to pass their bill, and the Examiner suggests that Daines is interested in calling attention to Democrats internal discord. In essence, the hope would be to force the many Democrats who are in-cycle in 2018 to choose between going on the record as favoring a pretty hefty tax increase by voting for a Daines-written single-payer bill and attracting the ire of Sanders supporters by voting against it.
....
The tactic of turning Sanders fans often dyspeptic attitude about the Democratic Party establishment to their advantage has worked for Republicans in the past, but Sanders has no intention of letting them run that playbook this week. Rather than seize the opportunity from Daines to talk about Medicare-for-All which would in turn highlight Democrats internal divisions Sanders will reject Daines amendment, a spokesperson for the Senator told Vox.
"The Democratic caucus will not participate in the Republicans' sham process. No amendment will get a vote until we see the final legislation and know what bill we are amending, Josh Miller-Lewis, a spokesperson for Sanders, said in a text.
Read more: https://www.vox.com/2017/7/26/16048136/bernie-sanders-daines-single-payer
Bernie is showing real leadership in the health care debate. Not posturing, real action and leadership.
still_one
(92,614 posts)and as part of our strategy all the Democrats should commit that they will all support the single payer amendment. This would serve two purposes:
1. All the Democrats and independents would be unified, NOT divided on this
2. The republicans would be faced with publicly rejecting single payer
Of course the other strategy would work too, don't do anything until they know what they are voting on
groundloop
(11,552 posts)It's my guess that repukes would make sure this amendment has a very high price tag attached to it in order to drive away Democrats in less progressive areas of the country. I like Sanders strategy of rejecting it outright.
still_one
(92,614 posts)Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)1st best choice: A divided Democratic Party
2nd best choice: Red state Democrats publically supporting single payer.
IronLionZion
(45,740 posts)liberals and liberal publications should stop repeating that lie.
The tax would replace a lot of existing taxes for publicly funded healthcare and premiums for private insurance. Not an increase over what we currently have, it's replacing much of what we already have.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)But there is no form of universal healthcare that will not require tax increases. Sure middle-class people will save on healthcare costs, but if we promise healthcare for everyone and no increases in taxes we are doomed.
And the fact is upper middle-class people and the upper class will have to pay more to cover all Americans since so many Americans make less than $30,000 a year. My taxes would increase significantly other granted my health care cost would go down.
IronLionZion
(45,740 posts)replace not increase. We can do it.
bluecollar2
(3,622 posts)LiberalLovinLug
(14,190 posts)But after that, as the rest of the world knows, it is cheaper. You pay less in extra taxes than you would for your previous health insurance.With the added bonus that everyone is covered from cradle to grave, and "pre-existing conditions" are gone forever.
This is the way Democrats should be presenting it. Be honest that there will be a cost to establish it, but explain how when everyone is in the pool, it is cheaper for everyone.
But I know, its the whole mandate thing that Republicans use for propaganda. ie..forcing everyone to pay for it. And the initial start up cost will be used and lied about as being an ongoing cost. Democrats have to have a planned and orchestrated messaging campaign. Healthcare should be a right, like fresh air and water. And that America is a place where we help our neighbour, and he helps you. Pound it out that it will be cheaper and cover everyone. Frame it in the right way and you'd see more acceptance.
Turn CO Blue
(4,221 posts)kacekwl
(7,037 posts)I'm afraid.
IronLionZion
(45,740 posts)My point is about the way VOX wrote about it.
fountainofyouth
(409 posts)That the majority party is failing so miserably that they have to try to embarrass the Democrats as a distraction.
BigmanPigman
(51,735 posts)GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)Bernie is here to save us
lapucelle
(18,427 posts)"Democrats are not going to participate in this one-sided and broken process, announced Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) Wednesday evening.
Glad to see that Sanders is on board with the rest of the Democratic caucus.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/344044-democrats-threaten-to-play-hardball-on-obamacare-repeal
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/26/democrats-schumer-health-care-241010
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/28/schumer-democrats-unity-obamacare-240020
R B Garr
(17,046 posts)murielm99
(30,810 posts)Great post.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)He's voting against Single Payer--there will be those who would find that troubling, but he's not listening to them (thankfully).
lapucelle
(18,427 posts)in both chambers. Schumer was smart to provide cover for anyone who may have been tempted by Daines's amendment.
R B Garr
(17,046 posts)Looks like "internal discord" is a big boon for the GOP, as we've seen. What a concept.
TomCADem
(17,391 posts)...even though he did not have the votes and it splintered support for the ACA. I can see why the Republicans would think that Bernie might decide to showboat at the expense of his allies.
Wounded Bear
(58,852 posts)sounds more like some kind of poison pill to split the Dem caucus, as he OP points out.
Unfortunately, I'm sure the Repubs will couch this in the old "Dems won't participate" bullshit.
lapucelle
(18,427 posts)Conyers has introduced this bill every year since 2003. (It was introduced again in January of this year.) This landmark legislation has been ready to go for 15 years. It has the majority of the Democratic congressional caucus as its co-sponsors.
This is why it's so important that supporters of single payer elect Democrats in 2018.
https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/26/medicare-all-bill-reaches-record-breaking-104-co-sponsors-congress
http://www.medicareforall.org/pages/HR676
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/676
https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/676
http://www.medicareforall.org/pages/HR676_and_S915
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_National_Health_Care_Act#Timeline
zentrum
(9,866 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)Bradical79
(4,490 posts)Is anyone really going to be mad about Democrats not voting for a Republican introduced single payer mystery bill?
George II
(67,782 posts)...that was basically what Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the floor of the Senate yesterday.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/26/democrats-schumer-health-care-241010
Dems to GOP: No amendments until you show us your bill
Chuck Schumer wasn't posturing, but taking real action and leadership. Thank you Senator Schumer!
Eliot Rosewater
(31,180 posts)Getting hard to know anymore.
George II
(67,782 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(31,180 posts)it is THAT bad again here already and if it is that bad here, it is WORSE 0ut there!