As Democrats wrestle with what to include in their massive social spending bill — progressive priorities especially, some of the biggest divides are rooted in guessing games over future Republican decision-making when Democrats may not control Congress.
The biggest such internal debate is over health care, where the party is caught between two expensive competing priorities: Fixing the Affordable Care Act and expanding Medicare to cover vision, hearing, and dental benefits.
Meanwhile, the Medicare expansion has a powerful champion in Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. who chairs the Budget Committee and can influence progressive votes in the House as well. As a result, the Senate plan is expected to be weighted in the other direction, with more funding to either stand up Medicare benefits quickly or fill gaps while it’s implemented.
"Longer terms are better so people can count on stability, but it's hard to see Republicans forcing up health insurance costs or raising taxes on families once these become law,” said Jesse Ferguson, a Democratic strategist who has worked on a variety of health care campaigns. “They'll oppose lower health insurance costs and lower taxes now, but they won't want to be the ones responsible for raising them later.
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