Since Austin Democratic Socialists of America and others pushed Rep. Lloyd Doggett to cosponsor H.R. 1384, Medicare for All Act of 2019, we’ve seen a domino effect in Congress.
The latest legislators to sign on to single-payer are Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA 30th District) and Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA 24th District). That brings the number of cosponsors of Rep. Jayapal’s H.R.1384 to 114!
To capitalize on this momentum and keep the energy going, we held our third national Weekend of Action on June 15-16, with dozens of DSA chapters participating across the country (check out the photos on Facebook!).
Our movement’s pressure has also led to the first ever hearing on Medicare for All in the House Ways and Means Committee.
Unlike the Budget hearing, this committee has the authority to legislate the bill’s primary policy and funding structure.
Sanders Institute Fellow Michael Lighty explained the significance of this on camera, and went further in Jacobin:
“The Ways and Means Committee must be used as a platform today and a focus for organizing based on our program... We cannot stop our outside agitation.”
Beyond Congress, Democratic primary candidates are also feeling the pressure.
Beyond Congress, Democratic primary candidates are also feeling the pressure.
Joe Biden has been making absurd arguments against Medicare for All, Kamala Harris bizarrely took back her initial support during the Democratic debates and even Elizabeth Warren has failed to fully back the bill.
The only person truly championing Medicare for All in the presidential primary is democratic socialist Bernie Sanders, and he has a serious shot of winning.
The attacks are coming from elsewhere too.
The attacks are coming from elsewhere too.
Just in time for the first debate, Mitch McConnell’s One Nation group is spending $4 million of undisclosed money to blanket the airwaves with attack ads against Medicare for All.
This is just the beginning of a massive corporate campaign to fight our movement. The reactionary TV spot plays on fears of longer wait times, but we know our care is already rationed — by ability to pay.
News from the M4A blog and the broader campaign
“If we let the Democrats define what’s possible, we will never achieve universal healthcare,” said longtime healthcare activist and Sanders Institute fellow Michael Lighty in a fiery speech at a Medicare for All town hall hosted by East Bay DSA and San Francisco DSA.
News from the M4A blog and the broader campaign
“If we let the Democrats define what’s possible, we will never achieve universal healthcare,” said longtime healthcare activist and Sanders Institute fellow Michael Lighty in a fiery speech at a Medicare for All town hall hosted by East Bay DSA and San Francisco DSA.
“The only way to combat this is with a mass movement... Our struggle for health justice can reclaim our humanity.”
Lighty was later joined by Gordon Mar (SF Board of Supervisors), Jasmine Ruddy (National Nurses United), and Uma Tadepalli (DSA SF and Physicians for a National Health Program) for a panel discussion on how to make Medicare for All a reality.
Lighty was later joined by Gordon Mar (SF Board of Supervisors), Jasmine Ruddy (National Nurses United), and Uma Tadepalli (DSA SF and Physicians for a National Health Program) for a panel discussion on how to make Medicare for All a reality.
You can watch a recording of the entire discussion here (the discussion starts at around the 22-minute mark).
Stay tuned for more announcements on Michael’s next speaking tour dates!
The statistics never feel less shocking, no matter how many times we hear them: 45 percent of Americans worry that a major health issue could bankrupt them, writes Boulder DSA member Dave Anderson, citing a recent Gallup poll.
The statistics never feel less shocking, no matter how many times we hear them: 45 percent of Americans worry that a major health issue could bankrupt them, writes Boulder DSA member Dave Anderson, citing a recent Gallup poll.
“The only truly universal proposal is offered in the bills by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington state) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) to institute an expanded and improved Medicare for All,” he writes.
“We are close to a historic floor vote on Medicare for All. It’s time to get into the fight.”
The fight for Medicare for All also means fighting for reproductive rights — including abortion — without apology, writes Lillian Cicerchia. Sen. Sanders’ S. 1804 and Rep. Jayapal’s H.R. 1384 both include “comprehensive reproductive care” and also nullify the Hyde Amendment, which prevents Medicaid programs from providing federal funds for abortions except in dire circumstances.
The fight for Medicare for All also means fighting for reproductive rights — including abortion — without apology, writes Lillian Cicerchia. Sen. Sanders’ S. 1804 and Rep. Jayapal’s H.R. 1384 both include “comprehensive reproductive care” and also nullify the Hyde Amendment, which prevents Medicaid programs from providing federal funds for abortions except in dire circumstances.
In this way, Sanders’ bill frames women’s healthcare in a radical, holistic light.
“By tying abortion access into a health system that addresses all of women’s needs, it affirms a more expansive sense of reproductive justice: both the right to reproduce and the right not to in a safe and healthy environment.”
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