“She’s pushing for a policy that I don’t agree with and would kick 149 million Americans off of their health care in just four years—their current health care. That is a fact, it says it on page 8 of the bill, of the Sanders/Warren bill,” she said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“That being said, I think there’s a better way, with one big bold idea, and that is by having a competitive nonprofit option that can compete with the insurance companies, and bring the prices down,” Klobuchar added.
“I also think that we need to take on the pharmaceutical companies in a big way. Work that I’ve done with Sen. [Bernie] Sanders. And that means bringing in less expensive drugs from other countries, that means allowing and unleashing Medicare to negotiate and getting rid of that prohibition that says they can’t. I lead that bill and I will get that done as president.”
“There is no monopoly on good ideas. And that’s a point I would make about Sen. Warren’s and Sen. Sanders’s proposals. I would not call them elitist,” she said.
Klobuchar alleged that Warren hadn’t been honest about the costs of the healthcare program and the way 149 million people would be kicked off of their healthcare plans under Medicare for All.
After Warren responded by referring to her many plans, Klobuchar said, “The difference between a plan and a pipe dream is something we can actually get done.”
Warren later released her Medicare for All plan, which calls for trillions in new taxes and tax hikes.
“While Bernie wrote the bill, I read the bill. On page 8 of the bill, it says we will no longer have private insurance as we know it. That means that 149 million Americans will no longer be able to have their insurance.
“I don’t think it’s a bold idea, I think it’s a bad idea,” she added, noting she supports a public option. “That is a bold idea,” she said.
Klobuchar, who has sought to portray herself as a moderate among radical candidates, claimed on Sunday that she’s been gaining momentum and garnering a slew of endorsements in Iowa, pushing back on new Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg’s claim that the current 2020 field doesn’t include anyone strong enough to beat President Trump.
Asked if Buttigieg is qualified to run for president after being mayor of a small city, Klobuchar said anyone at the stage during the last debate is more qualified than the current president. Pressed on whether Buttigieg is qualified, Klobuchar said, “Yes.”
