Single-Payer Protest Interrupts Senate Health Care Bill Markup

Debate over the Senate Finance Committee health care bill was briefly interrupted on Tuesday by a protest in support of the one thing absolutely not under consideration -- a single-payer health care plan.

"We are speaking for single-payer ... good senators would vote for single payer. Please listen to what the people want," said one protester, wearing a lab coat with that said "Medicare For All" on the back. "Please give us Medicare for all." He said repeatedly that 80% of doctors want a single-payer system. (Polls suggest that about 60 percent of doctors support single-payer.) "Everyone should have health care, everyone deserves health care, it is a right.

"We came all the way from Kansas City to speak to you about single payer," one protester said. "Good senators, listen to us --"

The senators ignored the protesters, who were surrounded by Capitol police, and quickly adjourned for lunch.

Watch the video here.

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Comments

[jinxed]

I can tell you where these people were in February, begging Baucus for a seat at the table with Big Pharma, HMOs and the HC insurance industry and when they had the audacity to show up and ask in person for a seat at the table, Big Time Max had them arrested! That's where the single payer supporters were! Max has basically been acting just like Boehner (Nobody has ever told me they want a public option fame) and ignoring everything his constituents have been telling him for the past YEAR.

[hrholmes]

The Health care bottom line on cost benefits is the gang of 6 represents less than 3% of the population. They have each received a little less than $5 million from the health industry. There are an estimated 50 million uninsured Americans. That means the gang of 6 is willing to throw all of America under the bus for less than a dime per body and they are from welfare states no less. That shows you that each of us is worth less than a dime to these people. Stand up now or just go somewhere and expire on your own. Michelle Bachman suggests you slit you wrists.

[littleblackcat]

There are a LOT of us who wonder what happened to single-payer. This country is so far back in the dark ages of health car it's disgusting. 37th!! 37th!!! T H I R T Y - S E V E N T H!! And this is supposed to be the "finest nation in the world!" Bull! No one should have to go without health care, nor should they have to lose everything they've worked for all their lives to pay for it.
Wake up, all you do-nothing, know-nothing elected "officials". Maybe it's time you ALL volunteered to work for ONE YEAR on wages like most of us earn. That would mean six months on MINIMUM WAGE! And then you could move up to say, $14.00 an hour. Feed your family, buy insurance, pay for your car, meet your mortgage (if you're lucky enough to have one) (or better yet, TRY to buy a home of your own on those miserable wages) or pay your rent on those wages. Tell us what you think about the quality of apartment you can find when you make minimum wage. EXIST like we do for a year. Then maybe you'll know enough to get your heads out of your butts and DO SOMETHING for the people in this country.

[justobserve]

They don't care! WE pay them big salary, extremely generous health care package. On top of that they receive money from Corporate America. Why do they care for little people like us?

[dizmo4]

A little late, aren't we?
Where was this four months ago, back when it could have made a difference?

Where were the progressives back in February, March, April pushing for single-payer ?

I'm glad liberals are getting more engaged, but at this point there's so much catch - up to do, the best that anyone can hope for is a moderately robust public option.