MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Mayor Durkan signs resolution in support of Jayapal’s ‘Medicare For All’ bill

Mar 15, 2019, 8:02 AM

Durkan Medicare for All resolution...

(Mayor Jenny Durkan, Twitter)

(Mayor Jenny Durkan, Twitter)

Seattle became the first city to formally support Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s Medicare for All measure, after Mayor Jenny Durkan signed a resolution Tuesday passed by city council.

RELATED: ‘Medicare for All’ bill introduced by Rep. Pramila Jayapal

“With this resolution, the city of Seattle sends a clear message to the other Washington that it is time for Medicare for All,” said Councilmember Lorena Gonzalez, the resolution’s original sponsor.

The Medicare for All Act is a proposal for single-payer health care, which is government funded. The Seattle Times previously reported that Jayapal’s plan is “more ambitious in scope” than previous, similar bills. The bill has 107 co-sponsors. It proposes services to be covered such as primary care, dental, eye care, mental health, prescription drugs, reproductive health, and substance abuse care.

“Rep. Jayapal is a leader on this issue, and she’s also my representative and my constituent,” Councilmember Gonzalez said. “I am proud to support our Congresswoman’s bill and I’m excited to offer Seattleites a chance to support Rep. Jayapal’s bill, which now has more than 100 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.”

Health care has been discussed on a larger, statewide scale since the new legislative session kicked off in Olympia at the beginning of the year.

RELATED: New universal healthcare proposal for Washington state

In early-January, Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled his proposal for “Cascade Care,” an attempt to to fight back against attacks on the Affordable Care Act occurring at a national level.

In the legislature, a pair of bills were introduced in 2019. The first would task a work group to “study and make recommendations to the Legislature on a universal health care system, that includes publicly funded, privately delivered health care that is sustainable and affordable to all Washington residents.”

The second would establish a nine-member board of trustees appointed by the governor. The bill requires that the trust provide “minimum essential coverage under the Affordable Care Act.” Residents with incomes under 200 percent of the federal poverty level would not be subject to any premiums, which would not be more than $200 a month.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

8 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

9 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

10 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

11 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

12 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

15 hours ago

Mayor Durkan signs resolution in support of Jayapal’s ‘Medicare For All’ bill