Sharp differences over health care between Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and her Democratic presidential rivals in last night’s first debate in Miami. Klobuchar argues, keep private insurance but also offer a government health care plan. “I am just simply concerned about kicking half of America off of their health insurance in four years,” she said. But Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren supports “Medicare for All” and told the audience, “There are a lot of politicians who say, oh, it’s just not possible, we just can’t do it…. What they’re really telling you is they just won’t fight for it.” But former Maryland Congressman John Delaney got spirited applause when he backed up Klobuchar saying, “I think we should be the party that keeps what’s working and fixes what’s broken.”
Klobuchar brought up prescription drugs, saying prices for 25-hundred medications have gone up double-digits since Donald Trump became president. “That’s what we call at home, all foam and no beer. We got nothing out of it… and pharma thinks they own Washington. Well, they don’t own me,” she said.
Klobuchar took a moderate stance on immigration during the debate. Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro argued it should no longer be a crime to illegally cross the border because “they use that law to justify under the law separating little children from their family.” Klobuchar responded, “Immigrants, they do not diminish America. They are America. And I am happy to look at his proposal, but I do think you want to make sure that you have provisions in place that allow you to go after traffickers and allow you go after people who are violating the law.”
Ten more Democratic presidential hopefuls, including Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, square off tonight (Thurs 8-10pm CT) in round two in Miami.