Intercept bureau chief: Democrats dropping support of Medicare for All could threaten bill’s momentum

Ryan Grim, the Washington, D.C., bureau chief for The Intercept, said Tuesday that a handful of Democratic lawmakers dropping their support for the latest Medicare for All proposal could threaten the momentum needed “for other members to continue to take it seriously.” 

During an interview on Hill.TV’s “Rising,” Grim pointed to some Democrats who previously supported the single-payer health care system but who did not sign on as cosponsors in the latest iteration of the bill as proposed last week, including Reps. Jared Golden (Maine), Tim Ryan (Ohio) and Vincente Gonzalez (Texas). 

“Momentum, you know, is everything on Capitol Hill. For years and years and years, Medicare for All… was considered to be aspirational legislation,” Grim said, adding that it has not been until more recently that in-depth policy proposals on the issue have been developed. 

“But it has to show forward progress, it has to show momentum for other members to continue to take it seriously,” he added. “And so if members start dropping off and don’t feel pressure to get back on, then that’s headed the wrong direction.” 

However, Grim noted that the addition of more moderate Democrats as cosponsors, including House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (N.J.), Medicare for All “starts to be taken more seriously in Washington as something that needs to be grappled with.” 

Watch part of Grim’s interview above.