<No.740> |
Democrats See Health Care as Winning Issue in 2020 US Election
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Growing public support
for health care programs
helped the Democratic Party
win control of the U.S. House of Representatives
in the 2018 election
and advocates believe
it will also help the party nominee
in 2020.
"Health care is a winning issue
for Democrats.
So, I think
any way
that they focus on health care and solutions
is gonna be beneficial
to them."
Republicans have had to fend off criticism
that conservative efforts
to cut government funding
would deny care
to many in need.
"No one's trying to deny the sick health care.
I think
that's an important thing
to clarify.
What's important is
how we achieve that."
The rising cost of health care
continues to be a major concern
in the U.S.
Senator Bernie Sanders
who lost the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016
is again running
on the promise
to expand the government Medicare program
for senior citizens
to provide universal health care
funded by increased taxes.
"The goal of a rational health care system is
not to make insurance companies billions in profits."
But there are concerns
that proposing a government takeover
of the $2.5-trillion health care industry
could alienate centrist voters
in the general election.
President Donald Trump has criticized Democratic health care proposals
as socialist.
"Democrat lawmakers are now embracing socialism.
They want to replace individual rights
with total government domination."
During the 2016 campaign,
Trump promised
not to cut assistance programs.
But in this year's budget,
the president proposed reducing funding
for both Medicare and Medicaid,
which provides medical assistance
to the poor and disabled.
Brian Padden, VOA News, Washington
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