Briefs

Medicare for all continues to be one of the most hotly debated topics of the Democratic primary cycle. Thus far, healthcare has received the most talking time of any singular issue during the debates. It is also one of the more contentious issues among the Democratic candidates and voters. The disagreements about Medicare for all are largely focused on cost and proposed sources of funding. 

Support for different versions of the Medicare for all bill and how it could be funded, however, have similar levels of support. In a November poll by Data for Progress, 5,881 registered voters surveyed between November 21st and December 3rd, respondents were randomly assigned to see either a head tax proposal, similar to Elizabeth Warren’s, or a payroll tax similar to Bernie Sanders’ idea. The payroll tax version was that “The policy would be paid for by increasing the payroll tax on earnings by 9 percentage points (half of which would be paid for by employers), an increase in income taxes on those earning more than $200,000 by 9 percentage points, and a 2% tax on accumulations of wealth worth more than $50 million” and the head tax proposal was that “The policy would be paid for by a 6 percent tax on the wealth of those with over $50 billion in assets and a tax on companies for each employee they hire.” There was no significant difference in support between the two versions of Medicare for all proposals that were tested and, in fact, they were almost equal at 51% support. Given the popularity of these proposals, are the attacks Trump and others are launching having any success among the American people?