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Repeating a move that cost him his seat in 2010, progressive Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) re-introduces bill to allow any American from age 18 to buy Medicare coverage. He also comments on proposed hike of minimum wage to $9, pre-school for all, and climate change legislation.Grayson explains the context for his comments in 2009 that the GOP plan was “don’t get sick, and if you do, die quickly” and how his proposal to expand Medicare coverage to all prompted health insurance interests to spend $2 million to defeat him in 2010. Undaunted, and strengthened by a big margin in 2012 election, Grayson has re-submitted his simple, 4-page law to extend Medicare to people under 65 on a pay-as-you-go basis. He details the range of premium rates based on age from $90 to under $500 per month, and we talk about the benefits to consumers and the health care system. His bill is HR 500, the “Medicare You Can Buy Into Act”.
We also get his reaction to proposals by President Obama in his State of the Union message, including a $9 minimum wage, preschool for all, and climate change. And he speculates on the decline of Republican power in the House.