Quote:Sen. Steve Daines is proposing an amendment to the Republican healthcare bill that would implement a government-run, single-payer insurance system in the U.S.

The Montana Republican doesn't support single-payer healthcare. But in a bit of political gamesmanship often seen in Congress, Daines wants to force vulnerable Democratic senators running for re-election in red states in 2018 to take a position on the liberal healthcare policy, which is gaining currency on the Left.

The Senate is considering legislation to partially repeal Obamacare. The floor debate process is poised to enter the amendment phase, during which senators can offer hundreds of proposals to alter the underlying bill. Daines' single-payer amendment is a carbon copy of one offered in the House by Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich.

The Conyers bill, with more than 100 Democratic cosponsors, proposes to create a program the legislation describes as "Medicare for All." According to the bill's language, "all individuals residing in the United States would be covered." To pay for the program, Conyers proposes raising income taxes on the top 5 percent of earners, plus hiking taxes on payroll and self-imployment income, unearned income, and stock and bond transactions.

Quote:Sanders has no intention of letting them run that playbook this week. Rather than seize the opportunity from Daines to talk about Medicare-for-All — which would in turn highlight Democrats’ internal divisions — Sanders will reject Daines’ amendment, a spokesperson for the Senator told Vox.

"The Democratic caucus will not participate in the Republicans' sham process. No amendment will get a vote until we see the final legislation and know what bill we are amending,” Josh Miller-Lewis, a spokesperson for Sanders, said in a text.

“Once Republicans show us their final bill, Sen. Sanders looks forward to getting a vote on his amendment that makes clear the Senate believes that the United States must join every major country and guarantee health care as a right, not a privilege."

(07-26-2017 11:52 PM)Kronke Wrote:  GOP rejects what they previously voted for, and the crazy old loon rejects his own pie in the sky plan. Outside of Rand and Lion Ted, this Senate is absolutely worthless. People laugh at Kid Rock, but honestly could he be any worse?

(07-27-2017 08:20 AM)Ohio Poly Wrote:  "Sen. Steve Daines is proposing an amendment to the Republican healthcare bill that would implement a government-run, single-payer insurance system in the U.S."
Somebody should inform him Medicare already exists and is well-liked.