Doubling-down on Obamacare?
In case you missed it, Jon Ossoff not only failed to offer a solution to the failing Affordable Care Act, but also refused to answer whether he supported single-payer health care during the WABE special election debate.
As the moderator pointed out, Ossoff would be joining a House caucus where many say the solution would be “to move to a single-payer.”
In fact, Ossoff’s former boss, Hank Johnson, and campaign bank-roller, Nancy Pelosi, are actively working toward single-payer health care, which makes it laughable to even think Ossoff would do anything other than rubber-stamp the European-style health care system – even more expensive than Obamacare.
Watch Ossoff dodge here.
Background:
In 2016, Pelosi Said She Would “Love A Single-Payer” Health Care System. “House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said Sunday she would ‘love’ a single-payer health care system as a way to remedy what Bill Clinton criticized last week about Obamacare. … Pelosi was asked by Meet The Press host Chuck Todd about Clinton’s remarks that Obamacare was the ‘craziest thing in the world’ due to its negative effects on middle-class people who didn’t qualify for the law’s subsidies. ‘So you’ve got this crazy system where all of a sudden 25 million more people have health care and then the people who are out there busting it, sometimes 60 hours a week, wind up with their premiums doubled and their coverage cut in half. It’s the craziest thing in the world,’ Clinton said. He walked back the remarks later, saying he still supported the law, and Pelosi claimed the comments were not damaging. ‘Do you acknowledge this problem with premiums … this problem in the middle here with small businesses really struggling?’ Todd asked. ‘Well, I wanted single-payer,’ she said. ‘I mean, I wanted a—I’d love a single-payer, but we’re not—I wanted a public option, which would address that. But we’ve never done anything, whether it was Social Security, Medicare and the rest where we haven’t said how does this— let’s see how it works, and let’s improve it. But no, I wouldn’t worry about that.’” (David Rutz, “Pelosi: I Would ‘Love’ A Single-Payer Health Care System,” The Washington Free Beacon, 10/9/16)
Pelosi’s Campaign And PAC Contributed $7,000 To Ossoff’s Campaign
On March 15, 2017, Ossoff Received $2,000 From Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) Campaign Committee. (Jon Ossoff For Congress, Pre-Special Election Report, Federal Election Commission, Filed 4/6/17)
On March 15, 2017, Ossoff Received $5,000 From Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) PAC To The Future. (Jon Ossoff For Congress, Pre-Special Election Report, Federal Election Commission, Filed 4/6/17)
On March 16, 2017, Pelosi Headlined a Fundraiser for Ossoff in D.C.
On March 16, 2017, Ossoff Was Scheduled To Attend A Fundraiser At The DNC With Nancy Pelosi And House Democrats. “HOUSE DEMOCRATS HOST OSSOFF FUNDRAISER: The top House Democratic brass will host a fundraiser on Thursday at Democratic National Committee headquarters for Jon Ossoff, whom Democrats have seized on as their best shot at snapping up the conservative-leaning House seat in the Atlanta suburbs vacated by HHS Secretary Tom Price. Among the headliners: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi; Minority Whip Steny Hoyer; Assistant Minority Leader Jim Clyburn; Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley; Caucus Vice Chairwoman Linda Sánchez; DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján; and Reps. Sanford Bishop, Hank Johnson, John Lewis and David Scott, all Georgia Democrats. The jungle primary for the special election is April 18. Here’s the invitation.” (Theodoric Meyer, “Courtovich Firm Signs New Client,” Politico Influence, 3/13/17)
Pelosi is Proud of Ossoff’s Campaign
Pelosi Praised Ossoff’s Performance In The Special Election Saying “He Made A Remarkable Showing [In The Special Election] It’s About Him And The Commitment He Has Made To The People Of That District.” NBC’s CHUCK TODD: “Let me move on to sort of the state of the Democratic Party now. I think there’s obviously depends on where you sit on the Georgia result on whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing for the party. Let me ask you this, is the energy inside the Democratic Party a bit overstated if John Ossoff gets the same number that Hillary Clinton got in that district?” PELOSI: “No not at all. Hillary Clinton is a very famous person running for President of the United States in a high profile election. Jon Ossoff ran and is running an off year election. Low turn out and the rest. The enthusiasm for hi, a young man, Georgetown 2009 we’re very proud of that. And really just someone who has attracted personally such support. He made a remarkable showing it’s about him and the commitment he has made to the people of that district. I feel very confident.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 4/23/17)
Hank Johnson is Leading Efforts to Pass A Version of Single-Payer Care
Rep. Hank Johnson Is A Co-Sponsor Of H.R. 676, The Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act. (H.R. 676, 1/24/17)
“This Bill Establishes The Medicare For All Program To Provide All Individuals Residing In The United States And U.S. Territories With Free Health Care.” “This bill establishes the Medicare for All Program to provide all individuals residing in the United States and U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, dietary and nutritional therapies, prescription drugs, emergency care, long-term care, mental health services, dental services, and vision care. Only public or nonprofit institutions may participate. Nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that deliver care in their own facilities may participate. Patients may choose from participating physicians and institutions. Health insurers may not sell health insurance that duplicates the benefits provided under this bill. Insurers may sell benefits that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery benefits. The bill sets forth methods to pay institutional providers and health professionals for services. Financial incentives between HMOs and physicians based on utilization are prohibited.” (H.R. 676, 1/24/17)