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Bernie Sanders endorses Colorado single-payer health initiative

Support comes as infighting plagues Democrats
Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont waves to the crowd as he arrives on the stage at the University of Colorado campus in Boulder on Oct. 10. Sanders on Wednesday endorsed a Colorado ballot question that would create a single-payer health care system. But his support comes as his own group, Our Revolution, and Democrats in Colorado, continue to fight with each other over policy and strategy moving forward.

DENVER – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday endorsed a single-payer health care ballot proposal for Colorado, as infighting between Democrats raged on.

Sanders made the announcement through his new group, Our Revolution, which has seen infighting similar to battles between Democrats in Colorado over the single-payer issue.

The endorsement from the former Democratic presidential candidate was announced by proponents of the single-payer initiative Thursday, ending speculation that Sanders would back the issue.

“There is an important ballot initiative in Colorado which calls for a (single-payer) health care system,” Sanders said at an event in Vermont. “It is absurd, it is beyond belief, that here in America we remain the only major country on Earth not to guarantee health care to all people. If that proposal can win in Colorado, I believe that idea will spread around the country.”

Colorado Democrats are split over the ballot proposal, with ProgressNow Colorado recently opposing it. The opposition drew attacks from supporters of the initiative, who said ProgressNow failed them.

The controversy was similar to a split at the Democratic National Convention last month in Philadelphia, where Sanders supporters protested Hillary Clinton delegates.

The new Sanders group, Our Revolution, kicked off with squabbles of its own, as most of its staff resigned after Jeff Weaver, the former campaign manager for Sanders, was tapped to lead the organization.

Concerns also were raised over the group’s 501(c)(4) tax status, which allows it to collect huge donations from anonymous sources, known as “dark money,” something Sanders passionately opposed on the campaign trail.

Opponents of the single-payer ballot question say the Sanders endorsement will do little to sway support.

“The risky and unaffordable ColoradoCare requires a $25 billion tax hike – giving us the highest income taxes in the country – to fund a system that experts say will run a deficit from day one,” said Sean Duffy, an opposition spokesperson. “That’s why grassroots Coloradans – from progressive Democrats to conservative Republicans – are coming together to vote no on Amendment 69.”

The $25 billion ballot question would eliminate private insurance for a 10 percent “premium tax” so that the state can cover health expenses. Employers would share employees’ costs.

Given the public spat in Colorado between Democrats over the initiative, proponents were proud to announce support from Sanders, the leader of a progressive “political revolution” that shook the foundation of the Democratic Party.

“It’s hard to imagine a figure whose support of ColoradoCare is more meaningful than Senator Sanders’,” said Owen Perkins, spokesman for proponents.

The campaign had hoped that Sanders would travel to Colorado to endorse the initiative. Supporters say they are in negotiations with him for a Colorado visit.

“No one has done more to elevate the idea of Medicare for all in the United States in recent years, and by bringing the notion of universal health care into stadiums, auditoriums, town halls and living rooms throughout the country, Senator Sanders has helped create the ideal environment for passing ColoradoCare,” Perkins said.

pmarcus@durangoherald.com

Aug 30, 2016
Report leads to clash over single-payer health care stability


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