Hillary Finally Moves to Co-Opt Sanders' Voters

It is good to see Hillary Clinton’s proposal to allow people of a certain age to buy into Medicare – “Medicare for more”, as the Times calls it. This would allow people over age 50 or 55, she was not clear which, to buy into the current Medicare program until they reach 65 when they are automatically covered.  This would actually be helpful on a couple of fronts. First, although Obamacare does offer people over the age of 50 health insurance, the premiums for those people can be multiples of what a healthy younger person would pay for the obvious reason that their chances of medical issues are much higher.  This proposal might be a cheaper option for those older people. And, by reducing the number of older people that insurance companies would cover under Obamacare, the premiums for younger adults could also be reduced.  Clinton was also unclear whether subsidies would be available for those poorer older Americans who bought into Medicare, as is currently the case under Obamacare.

This is a typically Hillary proposal – a smaller and more incremental change that will not really satisfy the supporters of “Medicare for all” that Sanders has made prominent in his campaign.  But, especially in the current political climate, it is these incremental changes that will, over time, get us to a single payer plan, although I’m sure most Sander’s supporters would prefer not to wait that long. The larger point is that Hillary is at least focused on her weakness with working class as well as more progressive Sanders’ voters and is making some moves to bring those voters into the fold. A few more baby steps to the left will certainly not hurt her.  The electorate is probably more progressive or, at least, open to more liberal ideas than it has been in a long time. Hillary should take advantage of that in the remaining primary season.

Meanwhile, Bernie continues to rack up victories – last night taking West Virginia and getting over 50% of the vote.  Next Tuesday, Oregon is the biggest state voting and Hillary leads in the polls there. And, on June 7th, the big states of California and New Jersey also vote.