Max Baucus, Architect of the ACA, backs Medicare for All

[HerbChestnut]

[link:https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sanders-steps-push-single-payer-health-care-old-foe-switches-n799911|

WASHINGTON — In the summer of 2009, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. was asked if Max Baucus, the Democratic chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee who was taking the lead on health care reform at the time, was open to his ideas.

"To a single-payer idea? No. Not in a million years," Sanders replied to a C-SPAN interviewer.

It turns out the wait was much shorter.

"I just think the time has come," Baucus told NBC News Friday, after stunning healthcare observers earlier in the day by seemingly coming around on single-payer at a public forum. "Back in '09, we were not ready to address it. It would never have passed. Here we are nine years later, I think it's time to hopefully have a very serious good faith look at it."

Baucus' evolution reflects how quickly the once-fringe idea of government-funded health care is gaining traction inside the Democratic party.

A majority of Dems support Medicare for All in the House of Reps, and Senators are starting to publicly support it. The tide is turning for Single Payer. Finally.

[madamesilverspurs]

1. Would that be the same Max Baucus

who, during the health care discussions, refused to hear from medical practitioners but had no problem finding room at the table for insurance executives? The same guy who threatened to have dozens of doctors and nurses arrested after they'd travelled from all over the country to speak to those writing the legislation? THAT guy?? The guy that perverted the intent away from health CARE to health INSURANCE -- HIM???

And ARCHITECT? Not to put too fine a point on it, but isn't that a bit like saying hurricane Harvey "blessed" Texas with much needed rain?

Ye gods.

.