The last day of the Netroots Nation Conference in Philadelphia was a whirlwind of activity. In the morning I filmed this panel with state legislators from Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania on pursuing Medicare for All healthcare systems in their states. Later, I interviewed U.S. reps Summer Lee (D-PA) and Jaime Raskin on their views on Medicare for All or single payer as well as other issues.
Medicare for All
The Medicare for All panel was moderated by Reverend Rodney Sadler. The panelists were State Rep. Carrie Rheingans of Michigan, State Rep Gregory Scott of Pennsylvania, and State Senator Gustavo Rivera of New York. They spoke of their efforts to enact Medicare for All systems in their states. They emphasized the cost savings that they would bring as well as improved access to care. The panel was not well attended. Panels on AI and other trainings were better attended. Trump is good at inventing crises to distract from older ones.
Interviews with Lee and Raskin
Later in the day I was able to get an interview with U.S. Representative Summer Lee (D-PA). We spoke about the ongoing war with Iran, the treatment of detainees at the ICE Detention Center in Moshannon Valley and her stance on a bill to allow states to pursue Medicare for All systems. She said that she was in favor of the bill.
Later Representative Jamie Raskin hosted a happy hour where he spoke of his initiative for a Democracy Summer to coincide with America 250. I asked him what his position on Single Payer was. He said that he was all for it. He then said that “Romney did it in Massachusetts.” I corrected him on that saying that it was similar to the Affordable Care Act.
Medicaid Cuts Rally
Friday night I attended a Medicaid rally at an Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. The speeches were similar in tone to rallies that I have attended here in the Alleghenies. Speakers cited a study estimating 51,000 excess deaths due to cuts emanating from the supposed Big Beautiful Bill.
Few of the attendees at the rally could afford to attend the Netroots Nation Conference. Medicare for All is intended to help these individuals. The attendees at the Netroots Conference like Jaime Raskin and Summer Lee should never lose sight of the plight of the least fortunate.