Becerra backpedals on single payer, woos doctors lobby

[Sibelius Fan]

Democratic candidate Xavier Becerra has softened his support for a single-payer healthcare system as he secures endorsements in his bid to be California’s next governor, most recently from the powerful doctors’ group, the California Medical Association, which officially backed him this week.

The former health secretary under President Joe Biden has advocated for government-run healthcare since he was a congressman thirty years ago. But when doctors with the medical association peppered the candidate with questions on single payer during a recent private meeting, they said Becerra told them he had other priorities.

“He said very clearly that, at this point, he wasn’t supportive of single payer,” said Dr. René Bravo, president of the California Medical Association.

https://www.kqed.org/news/12082059/xavier-becerra-backpedals-on-single-payer-as-he-woos-powerful-doctors-lobby

[Stargleamer]

1. Tom Steyer it is then n/t

Steyer at least seems to support single payer: https://www.tomsteyer.com/issues/healthcare

[chowder66]

7. How is he going to do it?

He needs the federal government under Trump to sign off on reallocating funds to California.

[stopdiggin]

2. We could maybe wait to see what Becerra actually says on the topic .. ?

As opposed to allowing 2nd and 3rd parties to 'reframe' longstanding position(s) held by the man himself.

Isn't this just a little too - - easy ? Convenient ? (for certain parties - and purpose ?)

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[chowder66]

8. Exactly. KQED didn't even have him as a participant in their "Town Hall" but they sure did deliver a sound bite.

[msongs]

3. Governor to be Hilton would like to hear from becerra himself thanks

[Buddyzbuddy]

4. It gives me pause to consider him.

But, I have a real problem with Steyer's latest commercials against Becerra. I don't know if the accusations made are true but the tone of the commercial is viscious. This is a primary against your own party, ostensibly. I will not support Steyer based on that one commercial. He authorized it.
Since Porter's back, that's whom I support. I just wish she hadn't slacked off the campaign. She should've taken one or two weeks and jumped back into it, IMHO. I love her intellect and her fire.
Bernie Sanders is great on policy but he doesn't come across as calm. More like an angry math teacher frustrated by the slower students. I mention this only to point out the difference in expectation.
I want somebody to fight for Californians. Somebody that has experienced hardship and can empathize with her/his constituents. Somebody that recognizes the "enemy" and is willing to name them and change the dynamics.

[chowder66]

9. He's not backpedaling. He's being realistic.

He would need the Trump administration to agree to reallocating funds. Read the whole article in the OP.

[PufPuf23]

5. Becerra on health care from his campaign website.

Healthcare is Becerra's #1 priority. Becerra appears to straddle the fence with universal health care as a goal to work towards, similar to the strategy followed by POTUS Obama with the ACA. Becerra political experience with the health care issue is deep and he is practical minded. Might not represent exactly what many of us want but hard to see how we could have a better candidate for the healthcare issue.


Priorities

Health Care

Health care is a human right. Californians deserve care they can actually use—without medical debt, delays, or fear of losing coverage. As California’s Health Care Governor, I will fight to make sure that every Californian has comprehensive, affordable health care. We can deliver real relief now while building toward a universal, single-payer CalCare system that puts people before profits.

Since my early years in Congress, I have been an advocate for single payer, and California is on its way there. And while I believe universal coverage is possible, I believe we also need to pursue immediate wins while building towards a unified system. This means implementing cost-containment strategies and working to eliminate racial, economic, and geographic disparities in accessing care for every Californian. I want to strengthen our Medi-Cal program for our most vulnerable families and find targeted cost-relief assistance programs for our middle-income families.

In Congress, I fought for the Affordable Care Act, as Attorney General of California I defended it, and then as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, I ran the largest federal agency making sure our families were safe and healthy during pandemics and disasters. I know how to fight, defend, and build, and together, we can move California, not backwards, with health care.

https://www.xavierbecerra2026.com/priorities/health-care/

[chowder66]

6. He is not backpedaling. He's being realistic.

From the same article....
"Becerra told the doctors that now was not the time for single payer and that making any kind of progress on it while President Trump was in office was unrealistic."

"For California to launch a single-payer system, it would need permission from the federal government to reallocate federal funding it receives for Medicaid and Medicare to the state’s new system, which the Trump administration almost certainly wouldn’t grant".

He doesn't support a Cal-Care bill right now due to the challenges ahead.

[stopdiggin]

10. sounds like a reasoned statement (and objective?) presented by someone who actually KNOWS

a hell of a lot about the subject. (due to real life hands on experience, at a number of different levels)

Making what he does have to say ... Of some value and note .. ?

[BlueCaliDem]

12. He's being overly cautious--and we need a bold governor.

Having done research on Becerra's experience as AG, he's too cautious. In the time of trump and his cultists in Congress, we need someone who can challenge them, not be cautious.

[BlueCaliDem]

11. Me and mine have been supporters of Tom Steyer from the get-go

and we are going to choose him on our ballot today.

He's the only one who can get single-payer done. And he's shown he's willing to do what it takes.

But single-payer--although important--is not the only issue why we've chosen Tom Steyer.

We need change. Drastically. California is basically a small country with more people than Canada! And they have universal coverage for all their citizens! If Canada can do it, California most certainly can, as well.

Tom Steyer on the Issues.