Phillips Shifts Position, aligns with Progressive Wing of Party
Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips has announced his support for a progressive healthcare bill led by House Progressive Caucus Chairwoman, D-Wash. The congressman, who has been considered a centrist, signed onto the bill on Wednesday, marking a significant policy shift towards the progressive wing of the party.
This move by Phillips contrasts with President Biden’s stance on healthcare. During the 2020 presidential election, Biden refused to endorse socializing healthcare, despite his eventual running mate Vice President Kamala Harris supporting the idea. Phillips’ endorsement of the bill puts him in stark contrast to Biden as he challenges the president for the White House.
While Phillips acknowledges his concerns with certain aspects of the bill, such as its prohibition of almost all private health insurance, he believes that his journey towards supporting the plan has been a long one. His perspective shifted when he witnessed uninsured children battling cancer after his daughter’s Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis nearly a decade ago. The issue resurfaced in 2016 when he realized that he couldn’t afford health insurance for his part-time employees in the coffee shops he had opened.
Representing a district that hosts UnitedHealth Group, Phillips became aware of the disconnect between the healthcare giants and the people he represents. He heard countless stories of coverage denials, medical debt, and bankruptcies caused by the current system. Phillips stated, “I have a progressive heart, a pragmatic head, and want to work with people on both sides of the aisle to achieve better outcomes for the country that both improve care and lower costs.”
Phillips, however, declined to address how the “Medicare-for-All” proposal would be funded.
