Progressive Idea of the Week A repeat from last week: Medicare and Medicaid for all.

This weeks Progressive Idea of the Week is a repeat of last weeks because millions of people's medical conditions may be at stake.

With Republicans in the Senate looking to pass their version of healthcare reform along party lines without benefit of extensive hearings and offerings of amendments (The debate for Obamacare, in contrast, went over a year, had over 100 hearings, and allowed over 100 amendments, many from Republicans), the idea of Medicare or Medicaid for all has found new enthusiasm in the states. In fact, the Republican Senate has unveiled a proposal that is not much better than the House Version. Instead of 23 million people losing medical insurance, pre CBO forecasts say only 18,000,000 would lose insurance. That is 18,000,000 too many. The final CBO forecast should come out on Tuesday.

The time for Medicare/Medicaid for all is now.

California and New York state legislatures are or have put bills together. Nevada's legislature passed one but their governor vetoed it (It will probably come back in some form). Other states like Colorado are considering it. Medicare and Medicaid have widespread support in the country (as does Obamacare now) and is affordable through a slight increase in the payroll tax. Expanding it to everyone would be a program to campaign on should Obamacare (patterned on the Romneycare) be repealed with an inadequate replacement that does not serve the needs of the people.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/6/15/15787626/mitch-mcconnell-single-payer-medicare-all

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/18/opinion/obamacare-repeal-medicaid.html?_r=0

http://www.salon.com/2017/06/09/medicaid-for-all-gets-a-major-boost-lawmakers-in-several-states-are-poised-to-pass-the-landmark-health-care-model/

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-nevada-medicaid-2017-story.html