Biden releases plans to expand Medicare, forgive student debt (Pander 2020)

The Hill ^ | 04 09 2020 | Tal Axelrod

[yesthatjallen]

Former Vice President Joe Biden released plans to expand Medicare eligibility and forgive some student debt as he works to unite a fractured Democratic base behind his presumptive 2020 nomination.

Biden announced Thursday he would lower the Medicare eligibility age to 60 and forgive student debt for low-income and middle class families who attended public colleges and universities, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and underfunded minority-serving institution (MSIs).

The proposals mark an initial olive branch to supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), some of whom have expressed skepticism at Biden’s centrist brand of politics and were dismayed when the Vermont progressive withdrew from the race Wednesday. Biden specifically referenced Sanders’s advocacy for the two issues in a Medium post announcing his plans.

“I believe that as we are being plunged into what is likely to be one of the most volatile and difficult economic times in this country’s recent history, we can take these critical steps to help make it easier for working people to make ends meet,” Biden wrote. “Senator Sanders and his supporters can take pride in their work in laying the groundwork for these ideas, and I’m proud to adopt them as part of my campaign at this critical moment in responding to the coronavirus crisis.”

SNIP

[yesthatjallen]

Now that Bernie is out Biden has to signal Bernie voters he'll deliver what Bernie promised before they don't vote or vote green or other.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Not one of those have a chance in hell of passing, even if Joey Fingers got elected. It’s a bait and switch for the BernieBros and BernieHoes to get their asses back on the RAT Plantation and get used once again.

[johniegrad]

forgive student debt for low-income and middle class families who attended public colleges and universities, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and underfunded minority-serving institution (MSIs).

Wait a minute. How do you do this. Arbitrarily relieve debt at some schools and not others?

[Rurudyne]

Trampling on the Constitution is just how progressives roll.

[EEGator]

It’s racist and should be (is) illegal.

[FreedomNotSafety]

Well why not? The US and State and City and podunk village mayor governemt lockdown unfairly hammered the young and healthy amongst us and for some this will be a lifetime setback that impair their earnings. Now that we are helicoptering $10 trillion why not a little more?

[yardboyd]

Go stick your heead in a toilet, Joey, and flush!

[sheehan]

more desperation by Senile Joe ... Crazy Bernie is a cult figure for dumb young socialists, they won’t vote for an establishment buffoon.

Plus, Crazy Bernie lost many white woring class voters from the 2016 primaries because of his changed stance on open borders and pandering to illegals

those voters wll either go to Trump or they will not vote.

[JoSixChip]

Now that we are helicoptering $10 trillion why not a little more?

How much do you owe?

[oldenuff35]

So for those of us who,

Paid for our educations by working our way through college,

Worked our butts off in high school and got scholarships,

Have worked extra jobs to pay off our student loans,

Are we at all compensated for our hard work?

OR

Are the lazy no working assholes who studied underwater basket weaving to a masters rewarded for accomplishing nothing of value?

[Savage Beast]

Does he plan to include illegals in Medicare? And do the illegals have to be present in the USA? Or does he intend to include everyone living in foreign countries as well?

[shotgun]

Does this mean I get to use both my employer insurance and supplement with Medicare now that I’m 60?

[1Old Pro]

What a fraud, neither proposal is plausible.

[headstamp 2]

Joe goes “Uncle Joe”.

[yesthatjallen]

more desperation by Senile Joe ... Crazy Bernie is a cult figure for dumb young socialists, they won’t vote for an establishment buffoon.

Probably not but as you said he's desperate. It's a 'hail mary' to prove he can be as 'progressive' as Bernie.

[Sacajaweau]

I'm on Medicare and every month, they take $145 out of my Social Security check for Medicare Part B...that's $1,740 a year.

Obviously Biden will have the same taken out of their paycheck...right?

[trublu]

Pandering for sure. But pandering works on a hell of a lot of people. This could get him votes.

[lurk]

Any policy idea posed by Mr Biden will be the wrong thing to do.

[rintintin]

more desperation by Senile Joe

I think these ideas will be popular. With the big stimulus bill, were already doing this stuff. We’re bailing out people right now who don’t have health insurance through their jobs, or who were gig workers , and were giving forbearance to hard pressed young people on their student indebtedness. I don’t hear anybody complaining, or very few.

There are no libertarians in a depression or a pandemic. Except “senior fellows” at Koch-funded think tanks, whose jobs are safe

[HighSierra5]

Buyin votes with our money.