California Senator Supports Medicare-for-all Legislation
At a town hall in Oakland, California, Senator Kamala Harris told attendees that she is planning on co-sponsorig Medicare-for-all legislation Senator Bernie Sanders will introduce.
I intend to co-sponsor the Medicare for All bill because it’s just the right thing to do.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) August 30, 2017
The bill is essentially single-payer health care, and would expand the federal Medicare program, which mostly covers people age 65 and older, to all Americans.
The Democratic senator has previously said she supports the concept of universal healthcare, but this is the first time she said she will vote for the legislation.
“Health care should be a right, not a privilege,” she said. “This should not be a partisan issue. It shouldn’t even be a bipartisan issue. It should be a nonpartisan issue.”
Sanders showed his support of Harris’ decision on Twitter:
Thank you @KamalaHarris for your support. Let's make health care a right, not a privilege. https://t.co/hYbxTq8BVH
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 30, 2017
Democrats have started to support the idea of single-payer healthcare since the 2016 election. The House version of the legislation, sponsored by Representative John Conyers Jr., has 117 sponsors, including 27 California Democratic House members.
