Tuesday, September 19, 2017

GOP Senator Wants to Block States From Setting Up Single-Payer Systems


Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) said Tuesday that he’s so Opposed to the idea of a Single-Payer Health Care System that he’s trying to Block California, New York, any other Democratic State from setting up such a State System.

“I think single payer is a mistake and I think it would be bad for a blue state. That’s part of my job in the United States Senate, to make value judgments like that.” Kennedy said.

Kennedy is attempting to Insert the issue into Republicans’ latest Bill to Repeal the Affordable Care Act. Under the so-called Cassidy-Graham Legislation, States would be given Block Grants to set up their Own Health Care Systems. While the fate of the Bill is unclear, the Louisiana Senator seeks to add an Amendment that would prevent States from using Federal Money for a Single-Payer System.

He said he sees no Contradiction between his Party’s strong Advocacy of States’ Rights, and his Effort to Strip States of the Ability to set up the types of Programs they want. “I love, I believe in states’ rights, but I also believe in the supremacy clause, and I believe the United States Congress has a legal and a moral obligation to, on occasion, set down national rules.” Kennedy said.

But isn’t this just a Case of his not liking a certain Policy that Millions of others in, say, California might want for themselves? “Well, if ― yes,” he conceded. “I feel strongly about it. And I’m in the United States Senate and I’m supposed to do what I think is right. And that’s what I think is right.”

A Single-Payer System, one version also known as “Medicare for all,” is one in which a Public Agency Organizes Health Care Financing but leaves Delivery of Services to the Private Sector. Public Support for the Concept has grown in recent years, although it’s nowhere near becoming a Reality at the National Level.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) recently introduced Single-Payer Legislation that would give Government-Run Health Insurance to Everybody in the Country. The Bill picked up a Number of Democratic Co-Sponsors in the Senate and it’s excited the Progressive Base, but it isn’t going anywhere. 

Kennedy said he doesn’t think Americans would be Happy with a Single-Payer System if they actually had it. “A single-payer system won’t work and it will break us, OK? We won’t be able to afford it,” he said. “That’s how I vote. It doesn’t mean if you disagree, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. It just means you’re wrong.”

But in a State System, what would stop the State from keeping the Money the State collects for Federal Health Care, and not submit it to the Federal Government, if the State is supplying the Medical Insurance for All State Citizens?









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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