New York Democrats Seem to Be Giving Up on State-Level Medicare for All
Under pressure from labor leaders and insurance executives, New York Democratic leaders are blocking a vote on single-payer health care legislation in the state — even though it has majority support in the legislature.
Democratic Socialists of America organized a protest in New York City to push for single payer health care in New York. (Erik McGregor / LightRocket via Getty Images)
A bill to create a single-payer health care system in New York state has been cosponsored by a majority of lawmakers in both houses of the state legislature for the first time ever — but it will likely be killed by that same legislature this week.
Advocates say that, under pressure from both insurance corporations and labor unions, New York legislative leaders are not planning to hold an up-or-down vote on the measure before the legislative session ends on Thursday.
The bill, known as the New York Health Act, has passed the state Assembly five times before. This year, the legislative session is coming to a close with the New York Health Act stuck in committee, not even having received a vote in the assembly.
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