Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Booker Stands By 'Medicare For All' Plan, But Adds That He Would Take Pragmatic Approach As President
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) on Sunday said he supports聽the progressive聽"Medicare for All" health care plan, but noted that he is a "pragmatist"聽who is interested in looking for more "immediate" reforms to the system.聽"I stand by supporting 'Medicare for All' but I鈥檓 also that pragmatist," Booker,聽a 2020 presidential candidate,聽 told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union." "I鈥檓 going to find the immediate things that we can do. I鈥檓 telling you right now we鈥檙e not going to pull health insurance from 150 million Americans that have private insurance, who like their insurance."聽(Birnbaum, 5/5)
Booker's comments underscore the tensions playing out in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary between progressives pushing sweeping economic proposals and moderates saying that more incremental moves will be necessary if the party wins back executive power in Washington. Booker is one of several 2020 contenders co-sponsoring the Medicare for All bill introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). That legislation would expand government-run health coverage and shrink private health insurance. Sanders is polling ahead of most other Democrats running for president. (Warmbrodt, 5/5)