Summary
The first of this week’s two-part 2020 Democratic Presidential primary debate kicked-off tonight in Miami, FL, featuring 10 Democratic candidates (listed in our summary below). Initial questions focused on the national economy but quickly moved to other topics, including health care, immigration, foreign affairs (particularly focused on Iran), gun violence, and climate change.
Tomorrow’s debate, also in Miami, will feature discussion among the 10 remaining Democratic candidates (listed further below). Note that candidates were randomly (but evenly) split between the two evenings based on polling numbers (details), though all candidates had to meet stipulated thresholds to participate in this week’s debates. The primary moderator for the event was NBC News anchor Lester Holt, who was joined by news commentators, Savannah Guthrie; José Díaz-Balart; Chuck Todd; and Rachel Maddow.
Key remarks pertaining to health care follow:
- Comprehensive Health Reform (Medicare for All, Public Option) – In a show of hands of who would eliminate private health insurance in favor of a national government-run health care plan, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (background and polling) and New York City Major Bill de Blasio (background and polling) affirmed their support. “I’m with Bernie on Medicare for all,” Sen. Warren said, later criticizing the insurance industry, which she said has “sucked $23 billion in profits” out of the health care system last year, reiterating that our current system is “not working for families but sure as heck is working for [insurance companies].”
Sen. Warren’s remarks followed Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (background and polling) who said she favors a public option, expressing concern about an approach that would “kick half of America off health insurance.” While Sen. Klobuchar said she supports the shared goal of universal health care, a public option approach would reduce premiums for an estimated 13 million individuals, while extending coverage to an additional 12 million individuals. Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (background and polling) also expressed support for Medicare for All but seemed to intimate a role for private health insurance as part of a universal health coverage plan. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker (background and polling) acknowledged that Medicare for All is “the way to go,” though has previously conveyed support for a public option and Affordable Care Act (ACA) “fixes.” Sen. Booker went on to criticize pharmaceutical companies and insurers, which he says are “profiteering off the pain of people in America.”
Additionally, former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke (background and polling) addressed his previous statements on the issue, confirming tonight he would not eliminate private health insurance, noting the need to preserve choice, while also addressing mental health access issues. Former Maryland Congressman John Delaney (background and polling) also affirmed support for retaining private insurance, noting that we should “fix what’s broken” but “keep what’s working.” Washington State Governor Jay Inslee (background and polling) said he was the only candidate thus far to pass a law establishing a public option, ultimately turning to the issue of protecting women’s reproductive health rights.
- Prescription Drug Costs – Responding to a question on the broader economy, Sen. Warren stressed the inherent disparities in the economy – an economy that works for a “thinner and thinner slice” of the population, such as prescription drug companies but not for those who want to fill a prescription. Shortly thereafter, responding to a question concerning corporate consolidation, Sen. Booker (background and polling) pointed to the role of prescription drug companies with “monopolistic holds on drugs” that hinder a free market economy. Senator Warren went on to expound on the notion of “winners and losers” and the implications of consolidation on restricted growth and innovation. On the topic of Medicare for All, Sen. Klobuchar’s broader response is included above, but of note, she explicitly criticized the $1 billion in “giveaways” to prescription drug companies and the roughly 2,500 drugs that she said have increased in double-digit prices under the Trump Administration.
- Opioids and Behavioral/Mental Health – Sen. Booker was questioned on whether pharmaceutical companies should be held criminally liable for the opioid crisis to which he responded “absolutely.” Sen. Booker, whose state is home to at least 14 of the largest pharmaceutical companies, attempted to separate himself publicly from the influence of pharmaceutical companies on his campaign. He went on to cite the need for comprehensive solutions to address the crisis, saying that for far too long our country has been “trying to arrest our way out of addiction,” a point that former Congressman O’Rourke stressed earlier in the debate.
- Gun Violence – Sen. Warren said seven children will die today of gun violence and it is a “national health emergency,” likening it to a virus that needs to be contained. She called for “doubling down on research,” including “bringing data to bear” on what works, in addition to background checks and banning the “weapons of war.” Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan (background and polling) called for trauma-based care, including access to mental health care, as a means of addressing gun violence in schools.
- Reproductive Health Rights – Several candidates stressed the importance of women’s reproductive health care rights, with former Housing Secretary Julián Castro (background and polling) noting the need to ensure that every woman is able to exercise her reproductive health care rights, including the LQBTQ population.
- Maternal Mortality – Sen. Klobuchar highlighted African American women’s higher rates of maternal mortality, citing the risks posed when an African American pregnant woman presents at a hospital with swollen hands and her concerns go unheeded.
Other topics pertaining to tax policy and corporate governance were addressed in reference to questions on the broader economy. A question was posed to former Congressman O’Rourke about whether he would support a top marginal individual tax rate of 70 percent, a question he did not explicitly answer. Rather, the former congressman noted the need for the economy to “work for everyone” and that the current system is “rigged to corporations.” However, the former congressman did confirm his support for a corporate tax rate increase to 28 percent. Mayor de Blasio later said “we’re [Democratic presidential candidates] supposed to be for [the] 70 percent [individual] tax rate.”
Tomorrow’s debate will feature remarks by the following candidates (as relayed by NPR here): former Vice President Joe Biden; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; California Sen. Kamala Harris; South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet; New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper; California Rep. Eric Swalwell, writer and spiritual guru Marianne Williamson; and entrepreneur Andrew Yang.
A total of six debates are slated for this year, followed by at least six more in 2020 (tentative schedule).